Garda chief’s worry over vicious assaults

Galway’s most senior Garda has vowed to increase Garda visibility in the city centre to combat ‘vicious’ assaults at night, and to deter serious so called ‘one punch’ attacks outside pubs and nightclubs.

Chief Superintendent Tom Curley has expressed concerns about what he described as ‘vicious’ assaults that were taking place in the city.

He said he was looking to deploy extra Garda patrols on the beat to curb public order offences and reduce the number of assaults taking place at night-time.

Speaking at this week’s Galway City Joint Policing Committee (JPC), Chief Supt Curley said: “I have concerns regarding the number of vicious assaults taking place. I’m concerned. There are no real hotspots. They are happening within a half kilometre or kilometre radius of the city centre.”

Chief Supt Curley said higher Garda visibility and more ‘boots on streets’ would help to contribute to a reduction in assaults.

Later in the meeting, as he gave a detailed breakdown of the crime figures for the city for the first half of the year, he spoke of the dangers of ‘one punch’ assaults that were occurring outside nightclubs and pubs.

He told of cases in Galway’s licensed venues where an altercation may occur inside, and the victim is attacked later on outside, when the perpetrator is lying in wait.

“They get a punch and then they fall to the ground and injure their head. They’re the people I want to protect; the ones who are out socialising and enjoying themselves and who are assaulted,” said Chief Supt Curley.

His Garda report, presented to the meeting, revealed that there had actually been a reduction in the number of assaults in the city between January and the end of June.

Assaults causing harm had reduced by 17%, down by nine incidents to 45 when compared with the same period last year. There were two fewer minor assaults, down 1% to 136 incidents in the first six months of the year.

There was a 10% reduction in public order offences detected, down 28 incidents to 264.