Donal MacIntyre has an unexpected altercation on Sheriff Street while filming TV3 series ?Breaking C

TV3 GROUP RELEASE

IMMEDIATE: Thursday 8th January, 2015

 

 

Donal MacIntyre has an unexpected altercation on Sheriff Street while filming TV3 series ‘Breaking Crime’.

 

Episode two sees Donal dig beneath the surface in Dublin’s north inner city, as he visits Sheriff Street and the North Wall area.

 

Donal has his camera destroyed when he tries to film on Sheriff Street.

 

Despite a range of youth services and community organisations, the bigger problem of drugs gangs and a normalisation of crime means that the young people in the area face huge challenges.

 

‘Donal MacIntyre: Breaking Crime’ episode 2 airs Monday at 9pm on TV3.

 

Interviews are available on request.

 

In this brand new four part TV3 series, Donal MacIntyre explores the world of youth crime; the causes, triggers, and the ripple effect on the wider community. What drives young people to choose a bad path, and once the wheels are set in motion is it ever possible to return? Donal meets the people at the heart of these issues; the young offenders, the reformed criminals, the families and communities, and the individuals making a difference.

 

Episode two sees Donal dig beneath the surface in Dublin’s north inner city. Sheriff Street and the North Wall area has a reputation as one of Ireland’s most marginalised communities. Surrounded by the wealth of the IFSC and new developments, the area has long struggled with unemployment, crime and the legacy of years of drug related activities. Despite a range of youth services and community organisations, the bigger problem of drugs gangs and a normalisation of crime means that the young people in the area face huge challenges.

 

To get to the heart of the issues, Donal decides to go down to Sheriff Street to meet people first hand, but this has consequences. A group of young people make it very clear that he is not welcome, leading to an altercation on the street and the camera being destroyed. Donal has to ask for protection on his next visit, the first time he has ever had to do this anywhere in the country.

 

Donal gives his opinion following his visit to the area: “To my mind, to see open drug dealing there is an offence to the Irish taxpayer. It’s an offence to anyone who’s put money in on those streets. It shouldn’t happen, it should’ve been stopped a decade ago, it should’ve been stopped five years ago, it should’ve been stopped five weeks ago, and today, raid after raid, it’s still going on and it’s unacceptable.”

 

Gerry Fay has been the chairman of the North Wall Community Association for 25 years and is only too familiar with the problems: “We have a major drugs problem in this area, described as an open air supermarket, 24 hours a day. It has an enormous impact on the community.”

 

He also points out that there is little that local residents can do: “People, on an individual basis, that have to live in an area and rear their family and kids in the area can’t physically go out and attack drug dealers. I mean, there’s a huge consequence there if you do.”

 

Donal goes in search of answers, speaking to Superintendent Sean Ward from Store Street Garda Station, who argues that the Gardaí are doing everything within their powers to address the situation: “The divisional drugs unit here will be targeting Sheriff St in particular over the next period of time, and other areas within the division in relation to that type of drug dealing. The community are fully behind the guards in relation to that because effectively it is the community themselves in Sheriff St who are affected by this drug dealing.”

 

Maureen O’Sullivan, TD for Dublin Central, believes that the way to tackle these problems is to set up a mini Criminal Assets Bureau: “It’s absolutely vital that the middle and the lower level dealers are held to account, and that they are seen to be held to account, so that’s not seen as a viable employment option.”

 

The Lourdes Centre is a community training facility that provides education and training for teenagers who have fallen out of the education system. Director Sarah Kelleher believes that the challenges facing the local community are increasing: “Things are worse than they ever were before, because now we have on sale a different product, which are tablets. Most of them are legal, which means it’s very hard to catch people dealing them, but what it brings with them is the culture of dealing, and what comes with that is anti-social behaviour.”

 

The centre also faces difficulties in keeping young people away in the training programmes and away from the lure of drug dealing. Sarah adds: “As we heard only last week, one young person saying to one of our staff: ‘why would I come in? I can earn more dealing on the street.’”

 

As well as the officials, Donal also meets the people making a difference; the local youth groups and training centres, the sports clubs, and the local homeless support group. Finally Donal hears from the people with the power to change everything – the young people of the area, and their fears, hopes and dreams for the future.

 

‘Donal MacIntyre: Breaking Crime’ airs Monday at 9pm on TV3.

 

Images have been sent to your picture desks  

 

ENDS

 

For further information
Ciara Byrne – Press Officer – 01 419 3329/087 319 9732

Jean O’Donovan – Press & Publicity Assistant – 01 419 3428

Sharon McHugh – Head of Press & Publicity – 087 922 4143

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www.tv3.ie

 

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