Sinn Féin justice spokesperson Martin Kenny TD has called for urgent action by the Garda Siochána in the Coolock area of Dublin, following the death of shooting victim, 22-year-old Eoin Boylan.

Deputy Kenny said:

“This is another violent death in what seems to be a feud between drug criminals, in a working class area of Dublin which has seen enough violence. Eoin Boylan is the fifth victim of this latest feud and like others who have been shot dead, he was only in his 20’s.

“The local community has called for a Garda task force to be deployed to deal with this rampant violence and I call on the minister and the Garda Commissioner to listen.

“It is not good enough that Minister Charlie Flanagan says he is ‘deeply concerned’. He is the Minister for Justice and we demand more than ‘concern’ from him. We need action.

“The people of Coolock, like the people of the North East Inner-City of Dublin, the people of Louth and all over the State must be protected. This is the basic function of the police service and it is not being fulfilled.

“While we realise that policing is not the only solution to the root causes of the crime and drug use that is causing this mayhem, it is where we look for protection.

“The cutbacks by successive Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael governments in basic community services, youth facilities, projects and early intervention, plus lack of political will or funding to proper youth diversion programmes, community policing and juvenile liaison is one of the causes of the scourge of drug abuse and drug dealing in this and other working class communities.

“This funding and these resource deficits must be addressed urgently. This action will be a crucial step in stopping the violence on our streets.”