A teenage boy trying to escape an attempting mugging at Glencairn Luas stop ran into the middle of busy M50 traffic in an effort to call for help.
In late December last year, it is understood three teenage boys got off the Luas at Glencairn when a man in his early 20s tried to mug them at knifepoint.
The boys decided to run in different directions with the alleged attacker chasing one of the boys.
The boy was chased down Mount Eagle Drive in Leopardstown before running through the Sandyford exit and on to the M50 to try and call for help.
The teen eventually flagged down one driver who rescued the boy. Gardai believe the alleged assailant gave up the pursuit and headed back towards the direction of Leopardstown Racecourse.
A spokesperson for the Gardai said they are “investigating an alleged assault incident which occurred at the Glencairn Luas Stop, Leopardstown, Dublin 18 at approximately 2:40pm on December 29.
“The male, aged in his late teens, who was allegedly assaulted fled the Luas stop and was observed running between junctions 14 and 15 on the M50. No injuries were reported. No arrests have been made.”
Local Labour councillor to the area, Lettie McCarthy said that this “behaviour like this cannot be tolerated and I can only imagine, how fighting it must have been for the teenagers.
“All of us need to be able to avail of public transport and we need to do so in the knowledge that we are safe.
“Parents should be able to feel their children are safe when they are getting the Luas. I will be raising this issue at our next Local Policing Forum meeting where we work closely with Transdev and ensure any extra required safety precautions will be delivered.”
The attempted mugging at the Luas station comes after a call for increased security along Luas lines was made earlier last year.
After a video of an assault on the Luas went viral back in July, Fianna Fail TD John Lahart said: “I, and my party, have been consistent in our calls for a dedicated Garda Transport Unit.
“There is no other way to deal with both the level and viciousness of this behaviour in my view.”
