Discarded syringes and ‘weird individuals’ reported on popular Dublin beach
Discarded syringes, underage drinking, naked men having sex in sand dunes, and “weird” individuals stalking women from the bushes — just some examples of antisocial behaviour reported by lifeguards at one of Dublin’s most popular beaches.
Logbooks compiled by water safety personnel at Dollymount Strand reveal a shocking pattern of antisocial behaviour plaguing the beach, which is located near the affluent suburb of Clontarf.
Three people sought first aid from lifeguards after being pricked by discarded syringe needles on the beach during a period of just two days last year. They included a pregnant woman and a young girl.
During a hot day in June 2017, gardaí were called after two males were spotted having sex in the sand dunes at Dollymount.
“Reports of two men in dunes without clothes, engaging in sexual acts,” noted the lifeguards’ logbook. “Approached and asked to move on. One failed to do so and cycled down the beach.”
Gardaí were called again later the same day following a complaint about “young teens” drinking in a shelter at the beach, while an adult male was discovered passed out from alcohol on the rocks two weeks’ later.
There were several reports in the logbooks of ‘suspicious’ or ‘weird’ men following women and hiding in bushes.
A confrontation also took place between the father of a little girl and a man who was accused of watching her change in one of the shelters.
In August 2017, a woman reported to lifeguards that she had been followed into the sand dunes by a ‘suspicious’ man in his 40s, who had been looking at her from some bushes when she arrived at the beach.
Another woman reported encountering a ‘weird’ man on a road near the beach later the same day, while gardaí told a man to leave the area following a similar report in September.
The logbooks, which were released by Dublin City Council under the Freedom of Information Act, also reveal that an ice-cream man presented to lifeguards with a head injury in June 2017.
A bin was set on fire during the same month, while ring buoys were stolen a number of times during the three-and-a-half-month bathing season last year. On one occasion, an 18-year-old male was caught in the act of removing a ring buoy.
Dollymount Strand is ranked by travel website TripAdvisor as the fourth-best beach in Dublin. By contrast, no case of antisocial behaviour was reported by the three beaches ranked ahead of Dollymount — Donabate, Malahide and Portmarnock — last year.
Logbooks maintained by lifeguards on these beaches almost exclusively contained entries relating to water rescues and first-aid administered in response to minor injuries.
There were 17 incidents recorded at Donabate in 2017. Of these, 16 involved minor injuries like cuts and jellyfish stings, while one related to a fire that broke out in the lifeguards’ hut.
In Portmarnock, there were 62 incidents last year — eight of the incidents reported in the logbook related to children who had been separated from their parents. Lifeguards at Malahide beach reported just three minor injuries and three water rescues.
There were a total of 59 incidents recorded at Dollymount Strand.
Apart from entries pertaining to antisocial behaviour, seven incidents related to water rescues, three related to missing children, and 32 involved minor injuries.
Asked whether antisocial behaviour remained an issue at Dollymount Strand, and whether any measures had been taken to combat such issues, Dublin City Council did not respond.
Excerpts from lifeguards’ logbooks
“12.55pm Woman presented with needle that she stood on. Wound cleaned and covered. Advised to seek further medical attention and agreed to do so. Panic in patient due to pregnancy.”
“Reports of two males in dunes without clothes engaging in sexual acts. Approached and asked to move on. One failed to do so and cycled down the beach. Gardaí were called about the incident and informed when the men left the beach.”
“Informed of a male collapsed [on] rocks approx. 100m left of Station 1. Patient was unconscious upon arrival — not pain or voice responsive. When [he] came around [he] complained of chest pain. Found out patient had been drinking heavily. Handed over to paramedics and removed by ambulance.”
“Path beside golf course half way up. Needle sticking up. Needle found.”
“Syringe prick 7pm”
“Man accused of looking at little girl changing, father of girl threw water on [the man].”
“Man acting suspicious. Report at 2.15pm. Black oil skins, two orange stripes at bottom leg. Approx 40yo. Followed a lady and proceeded to dunes, lady concerned and went to lifeguards to notify. Lady arrived at beach at approx 1.15pm and male was in bushes on causeway, looking out.”
