St. Stephen’s Green in Dublin
The U.S. Embassy in Dublin issued a warning to visitors to Ireland after an attack on a tourist from New York. The embassy suggests tourists avoid walking alone and urges them to keep a “low profile.”
“Pickpocketing, mugging, and ‘snatch and grab’ theft of mobile phones, watches, and jewelry can occur,” the mission said.
In an embassy security alert issued Tuesday, which comes on the heels of a brutal attack on an American tourist while citing “a number of recent incidents reported in Irish media,” the mission said visitors should “exercise good personal security practices” and be fully aware of their surroundings.
Stephen Termini, who is 57 and from Buffalo, New York, was beaten and kicked by a group of youths on Dublin’s Store Street last week. Termini’s son, told Raidió Teilifís Éireann, that his father had saved up and worked odd jobs to be able to travel to Ireland and was proud of his Irish heritage. Meanwhile, Termini remains in intensive care in Dublin’s Beaumont Hospital.
After the attack, Ireland‘s taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, called for more visible policing. “Our cities kind of deteriorated during the pandemic period and have never really come back to the level of safety that they were,” he told reporters.
The Dublin embassy issued tips that most veteran travelers typically practice but they serve as a good reminder, especially for those who are out of practice in travel after the lockdowns of the first years of the coronavirus pandemic.
“Avoid walking alone, if possible, especially during hours of darkness. Do not wear or display expensive jewelry or watches and avoid carrying large amounts of cash,” the alert read. “Avoid placing passports, cash, cell phones, or other valuables in the outer pockets of backpacks or purses or on tables in public places.”
Other useful tips which should be followed regardless of location include: “Avoid staring at your phone while walking in public areas. Limit earbud/headphone use when in public. Be mindful of your alcohol consumption. Keep a low profile.“
(Photo: Accura Media Group)
