The sun is setting on the innocence of Ireland
The killings of 2 polish men in Drimnagh, back in February 2008, by teenagers was the first major tear to appear in the social fabric of Ireland since the end of the Celtic Tiger. Today it appears that the shooting dead of a 50 year old man in the East Wall area of Dublin by teenagers as young as 13 is further evidence that the problem is growing.
The growing anti-social problems are not just confined to Dublin but attention is surely going to focus on the black spots of the city, of which there are many.
If we as a nation are ever to address this problem then this is the best time to start. As the economy contracts, jobs are lost and people are more willing to act tough and are more likely to support stern government actions. These actions, however, must not be to simply follow other countries such as the UK and allow the government to look as if they are doing something. The long process must begin by looking at our own country first and seeing what model best suits us.
Society is always driven by the majority and the majority of Irish people are strong and morally grounded, it is our unique strength that separates us from other countries, this is the strength we must draw on in order to preserve our society.
