SIPTU have called for increased safeguarding for Dublin City Council workers after a caretaker was assaulted at a flats complex in the north inner city last week.
The incident happened in Ballybough on January 9th and involved a 61-year-old who has worked with Dublin City Council for 28 years. According to SIPTU organiser Jay Power, the man was left with cuts and bruises following the assault.
Mr Power said: “There has been a marked rise in assaults on our members in recent times. The most recent incident was an unprovoked attack on a Caretaker in the Ballybough area of the North Inner City on 9th January. The worker involved is a 61-year-old grandfather with 28 years of service with the City Council.
“He was left with cuts and bruises following the physical attack while he carried out his duties in a flats complex. The Gardai were called to the incident but did not arrive and the worker only escaped more serious injury due to the intervention of a colleague. Unfortunately, such attacks are becoming a more frequent occurrence for many workers and it was not the first time that this individual has suffered an assault.”
The Caretaker, who does not wish to be named, said most people “do not realise the effects such attacks have on the employee and their families”. He added: It can change your entire personality, where you once viewed people in a friendly open manner, now you view them with suspicion and anxiety. It takes a long time to regain your confidence after such an incident.”
“When you no longer have a visible injury, people assume you are ok and should just get on with it,” he said. “However, it changes you, when you hear footsteps coming up behind you, you become anxious, and in some cases anti-social, as it changes your perception of people and their actions.”
SIPTU Dublin City Council Convenor, Pat McCormack, said that staff going about their daily job “should not have to do so in fear”. He said: “Public services are an essential element of a fair and decent society. The SIPTU Dublin City Council committee condemns the unwarranted attacks on our members, Dublin City Council staff and all public servants. These cowardly attacks need to be addressed.”
Dublin Live has contacted Dublin City Council for comment.
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