Gardaí have put extra patrols in place in west Dublin after a number of nights of joyriding and street violence.
They're appealing for information after incidents of dangerous driving in the Croftwood estates in Cherry Orchard in Ballyfermot on Tuesday and Wednesday, which led to the air support unit being drafted in.
They say additional patrols are in place to prevent any recurrence of similar incidents.
Local councillor Daithí Doolan says cars are being robbed, driven at speed and then burnt out.
Firefighters extinguishing a vehicle fire in Ballyfermot with @gardainfo air and ground units in attendance. We work closely with our partner emergency services at all types of incidents#Dublin #fire pic.twitter.com/fob4StK3Vx
— Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) January 26, 2022
The Sinn Féin rep says he was assaulted in the area on Wednesday night;
"This community, unfortunately, feels very isolated and abandoned and this cannot be allowed to continue any longer. While I was up there, I myself was even assaulted by one of those involved in this so-called joyriding. It was a punch in the back of the head that hurt but didn't do any damage."
Earlier this week Gardaí seized seven scramblers and a quad bike as part of an operation targeting the illegal use of the high powered bikes in Ballyfermot and Clondalkin. Five homes were searched.
Two of the bikes had been stolen.
Image: DFB twitter
