Reply to Irish Mail on Sunday and Debbie McCann. It’s Crime Correspondent.
Dear Ms. McCann,
Thank you for reaching out regarding your article on Sinne na Daoine and our community street patrols.
Before we begin, let’s make one thing perfectly clear so there can be no further misunderstandings,. Mr Anthony Casey is not the “leader” of Sinne Ná Daoine, he is a member and a concerned parent, like the vast majority of our many members.
In your email to us you are referencing social media comments labelling our group as “vigilantes.” We strongly reject this characterisation and urge you, as a crime journalist with the Irish Mail on Sunday, to redirect your investigative efforts toward the pressing issues fuelling public concern in Ireland, issues that have driven ordinary parents and citizens like those in Sinne na Daoine to take action to protect our neighbourhoods. Instead of trawling social media sites.
Our street patrols are not the work of vigilantes but of concerned people in their communities responding to a perceived vacuum in safety and accountability. If you wish to report on crime in Ireland, I respectfully ask that you focus on the following underreported issues, backed by data, and the links, which are driving fear and frustration among Irish citizens:
1. **Unvetted and Undocumented Migrants Involved in Crime**
While authorities claim no link between asylum seekers and increased crime, the reality on the ground tells a different story. In 2024, the Irish Times reported a “spike in arrests” of migrants arriving without travel documents, with “doorstop” operations targeting undocumented individuals. Yet, there is little transparency about how many of these individuals, some potentially with criminal backgrounds, are released into communities without proper vetting.
A 2008 study cited on Wikipedia noted that immigrants in many Western countries, including Ireland, are disproportionately represented in prison populations, particularly for violent and property crimes. The lack of data on the criminal histories of undocumented migrants in Ireland raises legitimate concerns among residents, especially when Garda resources are stretched thin. As a crime journalist, I urge you to investigate how many convicted criminals are among the unvetted migrants currently residing in Ireland and why this information is not readily available to the public.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immigration_and_crime
2. **Inflammatory Rhetoric from Public Figures**
You might also look into the case of a Limerick Muslim councillor whose inflammatory comments reportedly called for protestors to be shot, an alarming statement that risks escalating tensions in already polarised communities.
Such rhetoric, if true, is reckless and divisive, yet it has received scant attention in mainstream crime reporting. Compare this to the scrutiny faced by concerned parents organizing patrols to ensure their children’s & Comminity safety.
Why is the media quick to vilify citizens while overlooking public figures who inflame division? I invite you to verify these claims and explore their impact on community trust.
3. **Child Trafficking and Human Exploitation**
Human trafficking remains a critical issue in Ireland, yet it is woefully underreported. In 2024, Garda recorded 15 human trafficking offenses, a 29% decrease from prior years, but the crime of “abduction of a person under 16 years” surged by 85%, with 37 cases compared to 20 in 2023. These figures suggest that vulnerable children are at increasing risk, yet the public hears little about enforcement efforts or convictions. The U.S. Department of State has criticized Ireland for failing to identify trafficking victims, particularly in high-risk industries like fishing, and for inadequate support for survivors, especially undocumented workers and children. As a crime journalist, you have a platform to demand accountability on why Ireland is “in denial” about human trafficking, as noted by global experts in 2020.
Then of course you have the black axe crime gang as reported below.
Why are these alarming trends not front-page news?
https://gript.ie/1-in-5-of-global-interpol-black-axe-gang-type-arrests-took-place-in-ireland/
https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-trafficking-in-persons-report/ireland/
https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-trafficking-in-persons-report/ireland
4. **Drug Cartels Destroying Communities**
Ireland’s drug cartels, such as a well known Irish international cartel, continue to wreak havoc, with operations extending from Dublin to Dubai. Leaked documents tie this cartel to drug trafficking, money laundering, and violence, yet they have operated with impunity in the UAE, exploiting lax regulations.
Closer to home, the Irish Independent reported in 2023 that organized crime, including drug trafficking, fuels extortion and firearms smuggling, with mafia-style groups intimidating communities. Local drug markets are linked to community disturbance and fear, with residents reluctant to cooperate with Garda due to reprisals. In 2025, the Irish Times noted a rise in drug importation alongside murders and sex crimes, even as other crimes declined. These cartels thrive in part because of inadequate policing and judicial follow-through. Why, then, is the media fixated on community patrols rather than exposing the cartels’ grip on Irish towns and cities?
https://ocindex.net/country/ireland
https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/11249
**The Role of Sinne na Daoine and Community Patrols**
Sinne na Daoine’s patrols are a grassroots response to these unchecked threats. Parents and neighbors are stepping up because they feel abandoned by a system that fails to address rising crime and community safety concerns.
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris stated in 2023 that there is “no correlation” between international protection centers and crime surges, yet public trust is eroded when arrests of undocumented migrants rise without clear follow-up. Central Statistics Office data shows 150,000 people moved to Ireland in 2023-24, with only 30,000 being returning Irish citizens, placing strain on small communities. When mainstream media outlets like yours fail to investigate these issues, citizens are left to fend for themselves
https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/spotlight/arid-41307433.html
Labelling us “vigilantes” misrepresents our mission and distracts from the real story: a growing disconnect between Ireland’s government, media, and its people.
A 2024 article from FAIRUS.org highlighted this disconnect, noting “understandable concern” over communities being forced to house migrants without consultation. Rather than amplifying inflammatory social media comments, I challenge you to do the hard work of crime journalism—dig into the data, expose the real criminals, and hold authorities accountable.
https://www.fairus.org/blog/2024/05/01/ireland-breaking-point-immigration
**A Call to Action**
Ms. McCann, your role as a journalist carries immense responsibility. Instead of targeting concerned parents, investigate the convicted criminals reportedly “flooding” into Ireland, as public discourse suggests. Scrutinize the lack of vetting for migrants, the rise in child abductions, and the cartels profiting off Ireland’s suffering. If you did, perhaps groups like Sinne na Daoine wouldn’t feel compelled to patrol their own streets. I welcome a follow-up conversation to discuss our work further and provide you with firsthand accounts from our communities.
Sincerely,
SINNE NÁ DAOINE.
