Following the meeting with business leaders, Assistant Commissioner for the Dublin region Angela Willis said the Garda acknowledges the ongoing concerns and “recognise that high visibility is what will make people feel safe in this city.”
Ms Willis said gardaí will continue to work “to win back that feeling of safety in our city for all of our citizens, our workers and people who visit the city.”Stephen Browne, head of public affairs at Dublin Chamber, said the city has experienced “a heightened sense of menace” in recent years and that the issue of safety has reached “crisis levels.” He welcomed the announcement of additional garda resources, calling it a crucial interim measure.
Senior Garda officers told The Irish Times if any American visitors were robbed or assaulted, even during the course of a relatively minor incident, it had the potential to put the Garda and Government under pressure. Mr Browne said people attending the match must be kept safe.