Page 52 - The Gonzaga Record 1987
P. 52
interesting, and some of the cases high-lighted the general unrest which
prevails in the less well-off suburbs of Dublin. The lack of respect which
adolescents from these areas had for the Gardai was very evident.
This was a theme about which we learned more when we met in the
afternoon Garda Mick Foley, a policeman on the beat in the Sean
McDermott Street area for five years. He talked frankly about the
problems he had encountered during that time, most notably the lack of
respect afforded to him as an officer of the law. However, he felt that of
late there had been an improvement and was optimistic about the future
of community relations in that area.
But what this, and all the other sessions showed conclusively was that
there is no easy solution to the problems brought about by living in an
over-crowded area which is branded as a centre of crime.
One interesting memory is the lack of importance which the locals
afforded to time. Few, if any, possessed any timepieces of any description,
and coming from a middle-class background where punctuality counts a
great deal, I found this very intriguing. Doubtless it arises from the
condition of long-term unemployment.
All in all, the Urban Plunge was a great success. It is important to
point out that the aim is merely to acquaint one with the problems that
exist in the inner city, and not to set about tackling them. I learned a
great deal during the 48 hours, and even more than that, I made some
lasting friendships with the inner-city people.
50
prevails in the less well-off suburbs of Dublin. The lack of respect which
adolescents from these areas had for the Gardai was very evident.
This was a theme about which we learned more when we met in the
afternoon Garda Mick Foley, a policeman on the beat in the Sean
McDermott Street area for five years. He talked frankly about the
problems he had encountered during that time, most notably the lack of
respect afforded to him as an officer of the law. However, he felt that of
late there had been an improvement and was optimistic about the future
of community relations in that area.
But what this, and all the other sessions showed conclusively was that
there is no easy solution to the problems brought about by living in an
over-crowded area which is branded as a centre of crime.
One interesting memory is the lack of importance which the locals
afforded to time. Few, if any, possessed any timepieces of any description,
and coming from a middle-class background where punctuality counts a
great deal, I found this very intriguing. Doubtless it arises from the
condition of long-term unemployment.
All in all, the Urban Plunge was a great success. It is important to
point out that the aim is merely to acquaint one with the problems that
exist in the inner city, and not to set about tackling them. I learned a
great deal during the 48 hours, and even more than that, I made some
lasting friendships with the inner-city people.
50
