Drug use & crime in city centre

Widdershins

mart 23 wrote: »

Yet another creative writer poster. Its threads like this that bring their talents to the fore.

Why would you think it's creative writing? Did my post offend you?

mart 23

Widdershins wrote: »

Why would you think it's creative writing? Did my post offend you?

Why would you feel the need to attack an innocent person that you dont know and may have been unwell.

Widdershins

mart 23 wrote: »

Why would you feel the need to attack an innocent person that you dont know and may have been unwell.

I wouldn't. I felt the need to defend myself against a man who was agitated and menacing and stopping me from moving past him, but it didn't come to anything. If he was unwell rather than on drugs doesn't mean people have to tolerate anything he does to them. It was clear enough that he wasn't unwell and not intellectually disabled, though.

I had an experience with a car full of young men who crashed on a straight road at high speed near my house. I was there and saw the same plate eyed look on them. I have seen ketamine users with that look and manner.

Vladimir Poontang

While it is great to see improvements in the city with all the new and proposed projects it is a sad state of affairs to see the general air of certain quarters go in a southerly direction.

Don't blame people one iota for flocking to the shopping centres and away from the menacing clientele about town

panda100

Vladimir Poontang wrote: »

away from the menacing clientele about town

Sometimes I wonder do I live in a different city to everyone else on here! Limerick generally is a very friendly city. Don't think I've ever encountered menacing clientele about the city and I walk all around it morning, noon and night. I genuinely am intrigued to hear of others experiences on here and how and why it differs so radically to mine?

Widdershins

panda100 wrote: »

Sometimes I wonder do I live in a different city to everyone else on here! Limerick generally is a very friendly city. Don't think I've ever encountered menacing clientele about the city and I walk all around it morning, noon and night. I genuinely am intrigued to hear of others experiences on here and how and why it differs so radically to mine?

My experience was the only one out of many visits to Limerick. That was the point I was making, that it's rare. You might see the types that some of my Limerick friends call scobes, they keep to themselves. I used to know where to avoid in the immediate vicinity of where I socialised at night, though I don't know the street names.

Silentcorner

panda100 wrote: »

Sometimes I wonder do I live in a different city to everyone else on here! Limerick generally is a very friendly city. Don't think I've ever encountered menacing clientele about the city and I walk all around it morning, noon and night. I genuinely am intrigued to hear of others experiences on here and how and why it differs so radically to mine?

I am the same, I often wonder am I living in a different city also, I simply never see any activity that would alter my opinion...

I do not know anybody who is afraid to use their mobile phone in town.
I do not know anybody who is afraid to take money out of a pass machine around town.
I do not know anybody, who knows anybody, who have been assaulted during daylight hours in the city centre...

Yet it's supposed to be full of scumbags....

I think it is a little more complex than we think...the city centre has a different energy to most other Irish cities, it feels completely different to Cork and Galway for instance, if any part of you doesn't like that energy you won't like the city centre...if a big part of you doesn't like that energy you will hate the place...it has a gritty feel to it that is not for everyone...

LimerickCity

This thread started about drugs and crime in the city centre. When did anyone mention drugs and crime in places like Moyross, Weston, Southill, St Mary's Park etc. 
Most of the crime outside of the city centre i would suggest takes place in estates outside of those mentioned above.
Limerick is a safe city, in the last few years more junkies have appeared on the streets, i would argue that it is much more noticeable in Cork and Dublin than it is here.
No matter where you go in the country there will always be opportunists hanging around nightclubs and late night fast food places where people congregate. If you look for trouble you will get it. Much the same as you would anywhere else in the country. 
Anyone can happen to be unlucky, wrong place wrong time. I genuinely feel sorry for those people but that is not solely a Limerick problem.
Most of the more affluent estates younger resident share schools and sports with those in less affluent areas which in some cases lead to lifelong friendships. In my opinion this does more good than anything else. A person is not defined by where they grew up. 
I myself grew up in one of these run down estates, where my parents like many others purchased our family home from the council, i happened to have the greatest childhood anyone could wish for. I and most of my friends from that time all finished school/college and moved onto bigger and better things. Unfortunately my children will never have a childhood as good as mine was.
People are too fast to criticize and put the city and its people down.
We have a great city full of mostly great people.
Don't forget that in a hurry.

Vladimir Poontang

We have a serious heroin problem and a serious image problem. Violent assaults are happening week in week out on the city streets.

The city centre is a ****hole and all the feel good vibes in the world isn't going to change that anytime soon.

We need action.

Widdershins

YFlyer wrote: »

That Eimear that was drunk and on the ground in William Street tonight should be charged for the ambulance that called out to her.

Can I ask what this is about?

Silentcorner

Vladimir Poontang wrote: »

We have a serious heroin problem and a serious image problem. Violent assaults are happening week in week out on the city streets.

The city centre is a ****hole and all the feel good vibes in the world isn't going to change that anytime soon.

We need action.

You have identified 4 completely unrelated issues the city faces...

Serious Heroin Problem - I can see what you mean, though I think you are overstating it a bit...(not just a local issue)

Violent Assaults - Again, I'd imagine there has been an increase in assaults late at night as it is being seen across the country with the improving economy (not just a local issue)...there is probably some localised issues with teenagers that flare up every now and again also...

Serious Image Problem - I agree, it has dogged the city for nearly 40 years, this is a unique problem to Limerick, I think in time, that will recede (the image problem is not crime related, it is a deeper problem)...

City Centre is a S##thole - That is completely subjective, although we can all agree the city centre needs improvements, it is a bit strong to call it a dump of some sort....

I'm not sure what purpose a thread of this sort serves, maybe just a chance for us all to blow off some steam...

I think most of us can see the faults in the place, but it seems those issues do not stop most of us enjoying the place, we can talk about the beauty or ugliness of the city centre, it is subjective...a city is made up of people, their history, culture, humour and personality are what make a place...we are not doing too badly on that front...

pcuser

I lived in Limerick City until I was 27. I moved 8 years ago. I head back a 2 to 3 times a year and each time I head back I think the city has turned in to more of a ****hole.

Drugs appear to have a tight grip on the city now and all that comes with that.

Mc Love

pcuser wrote: »

I lived in Limerick City until I was 27. I moved 8 years ago. I head back a 2 to 3 times a year and each time I head back I think the city has turned in to more of a ****hole.

Drugs appear to have a tight grip on the city now and all that comes with that.

Maybe I'm blind to it, but it clearly is on the up and is no longer a ****hole!

Silentcorner

pcuser wrote: »

I lived in Limerick City until I was 27. I moved 8 years ago. I head back a 2 to 3 times a year and each time I head back I think the city has turned in to more of a ****hole.

Drugs appear to have a tight grip on the city now and all that comes with that.

Maybe I'm blind myself, but 2010 was an awful time in Limerick, the feud just came to an end...the citys reputation was in tatters...about 4,000 jobs had just been lost...

The huge improvements made from 2011 onwards are obvious to anyone...

Like I said in a previous post, some people just do not like to the place...it's not for them...

pcuser

Its no different to a painted wall in your home.

If you look at it every day it looks the same. Its only when you start to paint it the same colour or remove a picture you realize just how different it looks.

I think people in Limerick dont realize how bad it has become as they focus on the positives.

Silentcorner

pcuser wrote: »

Its no different to a painted wall in your home.

If you look at it every day it looks the same. Its only when you start to paint it the same colour or remove a picture you realize just how different it looks.

I think people in Limerick dont realize how bad it has become as they focus on the positives.

You do understand, I can say the exact same thing to you...

I think that Irish people's distaste for the city prevents them from seeing the obvious improvements...or any improvements for that matter...

It is a much cleaner city for a start, it has had millions invested in different streets, riverfront...more buildings have been gutted and refit...

Your point was, in the last 8 years, the city has gotten worse...I'm sorry now, but that is nonsense...

damowill

Vladimir Poontang wrote: »

We have a serious heroin problem and a serious image problem. Violent assaults are happening week in week out on the city streets.

The city centre is a ****hole and all the feel good vibes in the world isn't going to change that anytime soon.

We need action.

we need action? so what have you done about it besides start a thread? and what is this thread supposed to achieve?

kilburn

Widdershins wrote:

I was in Limerick recently and walking down Cruises St. A very drugged-up looking man was walking in my direction, kind of gurning and making weird hand motions (dancing?!) as he walked along. I noticed he had eyes like plates. There was a big crowd so I wasn't worried and he annoyed me as he came too close to me and blurbled something incoherent in Limerglish (sorry Limerick people but with 7 + versions of an accent, some of them are going to be hard to understand). I was in the mood to knee him in the jewels, but a big tall red haired man put his sandwich down, shook his head at me and started to come over. The creepy one went on his way, fortunately. Reminds you that most people are completely normal, and there's more of them than the bad ones.

Didnt realise we spoke Limerglish and 7 variants at that

Widdershins

kilburn wrote: »

Didnt realise we spoke Limerglish and 7 variants at that

Some do, you haven’t heard the wonderful lyrical limerglish before? I like it.

Widdershins

Widdershins wrote: »

Some do, you haven’t heard the wonderful lyrical limerglish before? I like it.

It was a historian who loves limerick who told me about the 7 variants.

Insect Overlord

kilburn wrote: »

Didnt realise we spoke Limerglish and 7 variants at that

We do have some pure daycint accents around town, sham. C'mere I tell ya a question about your tackies, kid. :P

pcuser

Silentcorner wrote: »

Your point was, in the last 8 years, the city has gotten worse...I'm sorry now, but that is nonsense...

Take a walk down Lord Edward Street, Parnell Street, Wickham Street, Johns Square, Old Clare Street.

Some of these places look better than they did 8 years, That does not mean they are any better. From what I can see they are a hell of a lot worse.

Cookiemunster

pcuser wrote: »

Take a walk down Lord Edward Street, Parnell Street, Wickham Street, Johns Square, Old Clare Street.

Some of these places look better than they did 8 years, That does not mean they are any better. From what I can see they are a hell of a lot worse.

I walk down some of these streets often and you're talking rubbish. My 67 year old Dad drinks in the few remaining pubs on Edward St and walks home unmolested regularly.
There have been winos on Parnell St for as long as I can remember and I'm in my 40s, so it not a new thing and it certainly hasn't gotten any worse in the last 8 years.
Wickham St is a ****hole, but it's no worse than it's been for the last 20 years.

Silentcorner

pcuser wrote: »

Take a walk down Lord Edward Street, Parnell Street, Wickham Street, Johns Square, Old Clare Street.

Some of these places look better than they did 8 years, That does not mean they are any better. From what I can see they are a hell of a lot worse.

Johns Square is now home to artists, Limerick Printmakers and Dance Limerick...it's never looked better...

clownface95

Don’t usually go into the city much but today I had to head in for a few hours. Jesus Christ the amount of homeless and junkies wondering around the place is crazy, they all look off their heads and pail faces on them . Since when did it get that bad? I was beginning to think I was in Chicago or New York

bigpink

clownface95 wrote: »

Don’t usually go into the city much but today I had to head in for a few hours. Jesus Christ the amount of homeless and junkies wondering around the place is crazy, they all look off their heads and pail faces on them . Since when did it get that bad? I was beginning to think I was in Chicago or New York

Last 2 years gone bad

clownface95

Their seems to be homeless on every corner of the street. Seen a guy with a happy meal Macdonald’s hat dancing around off his head in cruises street, surprised it was gone that bad .

osarusan

I think some people just like the narrative that the city, and indeed the whole world, is going to sh!t.

Phoenix Wright

Today I was walking up the archway from Cruise's Street to William's Street (Todd's Bow I believe it's called) and I saw a man piss drunk and lying flat out on the ground just before 4pm. It was difficult to determine whether he was homeless or not, but he was a wearing a blue and white striped beanie hat (anyone else see him around previously?), and had a bottle of wine alongside him.

Well.. I wish I hadn't walked up that way because in broad daylight and at a very busy time in town, he decided to take his c*ck and balls out of his trousers and he let a stream of piss down the path no more than one metre across from me. He muttered something in my direction but I kept walking. I saw a Garda car looking for a spot to park at William Street no more than five minutes later (presumably to deal with this man) which is positive of course, though it was such a shame to see this.

Poxyshamrock

clownface95 wrote: »

I was beginning to think I was in Chicago or New York

Happens me all the time. Hard to tell the difference between Arthur’s Quay Park and Central Park.

And if you look at Riverpoint from a certain angle, it looks practically identical to Willis Tower.