A judge has described Dublin’s Temple Bar as ‘becoming a violent, post-apocalyptic no-go area where people can’t be safe’.
Sentencing a man for a violent assault on Bedford Row, Judge Pauline Codd made her remarks before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, journalist Natasha Reid reports.
Ms. Justice Codd sentenced 25-year-old Jordan Maguire, of no fixed abode, to four years in jail for the assault which took place in November 2022.
The court was shown CCTV of Maguire kicking and stomping on the man and beating him with a can of cider.
Garda Michael Walsh said that Maguire, who has 50 previous convictions and was out on bail, was sleeping rough at the time of the assault.
The court heard his previous convictions relate to robbery, a threat to kill, possession of knives, and two for assaults causing harm which took place after the incident before the court.
Defence counsel Oisín Clarke told the court that his client had taken the death of his mother hard and that this had led him to drugs and alcohol.
Clarke said that due to this behaviour Maguire had been asked to leave the home of his grandmother.
Ms. Justice Codd described the attack as ‘barbaric and savage’.
‘One wonders in terms of the atmosphere in Temple Bar because the court sees levels of violence meted out there by groups and gangs of young men,’ she said.
‘It seems Temple Bar is becoming a violent, post-apocalyptic place. It’s shocking to see it, that people can’t be safe down there. It makes it a no-go area for people.’