What's Gone Wrong With Temple Bar?

After the latest in a series of violent incidents in Temple Bar, questions are being asked about its suitability for the 2,000 people who live there and its safety for the tens of thousands of tourists who visit there every year. Frank McDonald, who has lived in Temple Bar for more than 20 years, says that while he has personally never felt unsafe there, it has definitely become a more violent place in recent times. Public drinking, in breach of byelaws which seem to be ignored by publicans,have created an atmosphere which leads to violence, he believes. Martin Harte, the chief executive of the Temple Bar Company believes the problems are down to the lack of gardai in the area. "There are 160 fewer gardai in Dublin city centre than there were in 2010", he says. "It's not the fault of the guards that the place has become more violent. They just don't have the numbers".