O'Flynn Condemns knife attack on Garda - "Direct assault on public safety - this must be a line in the sand"
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The Chair of Independent Ireland and Spokesperson for Urban Affairs has condemned this evening’s knife attack on a serving Garda in Dublin city centre, describing it as “a direct assault on public safety and the authority of the State”.
In a statement released tonight, O'Flynn said the incident must serve as a “turning point” in how the Government responds to the escalating pattern of violent crime in Irish cities.
“This was not an isolated event, It is part of a deeply troubling trend of violent, life-endangering attacks that have become more frequent across urban Ireland — from knife incidents and gangland shootings to assaults on frontline Gardaí. There is now a visible culture of impunity in parts of our cities, and the State’s response remains dangerously slow, complacent and reactive.”
The party has criticised what it calls “a lack of political leadership and coherent planning” in tackling street-level violence, noting that residents of cities including Dublin, Cork and Limerick are increasingly asking legitimate questions about public safety.
“The people of our cities are entitled to safety and order. They are entitled to expect a functioning justice system. And they are entitled to expect that frontline Gardaí will not be violently attacked and stabbed while doing their duty.”
Independent Ireland is now calling for an immediate and comprehensive national response to violent urban crime. Among the party’s priorities are the introduction of permanent high-visibility Garda patrols in identified hotspots, supported by better recruitment, equipment and rapid deployment capabilities.
O'Flynn is also calling for mandatory sentencing in cases involving knife crime and says suspended sentences should be ruled out in cases where life is endangered or where weapons are carried in public.
“The Government must stop treating violent crime as a regrettable feature of modern life. It is not. It is a preventable crisis — one that requires a national response,”
“As a party, we stand firmly with the rank-and-file members of An Garda Síochána, and with the countless communities across Ireland who are asking not for platitudes, but for practical action.”
O'Flynn concluded by saying that the attack in Dublin city centre must be “a line in the sand”.
“The time for half-measures has passed. What is needed now is political will and immediate implementation of measures that prioritise safety, deterrence and accountability.”
