Assault, lewd behaviour, theft and aggression recorded on trains in Laois

Assault, lewd behaviour, theft and aggression were all reported on trains in Laois in the last three months of 2023. 

The incidents offer a snapshot of the antisocial and criminal behaviour being endured by commuters and rail staff in the county. 

Despite ongoing garda operations such as Operation Twin Tracks, there were 325 reported incidents on trains nationwide in the last quarter of 2023. There were 40 assaults which included seven on rail staff. 

In total operations involving 70 gardaí supported by Irish Rail staff took place during the same three months. The operations involving garda patrols and specialist units including the Dog Unit and Garda Mounted Unit were aimed at tackling antisocial behaviour on public transport.  

Despite the activity, a number of serious incidents occurred on trains in Laois. 

These include an assault on a customer at Portarlington Train Station on September 21, 2023 and “Lewd Behaviour” on-board the 22:10 Heuston - Portlaoise on the same date and then.

In November 2023, there was “aggressive behaviour at on-board 06.47 Portlaoise/Heuston train” on November 11, antisocial behaviour on-board 13:20 Heuston - Portlaoise on November 20 and Lewd Behaviour at on-board P229 22:30 Portlaoise - Heuston on November 24. 

In December 2023, Irish Rail recorded the “theft of 3rd Party property” on board P226 20:33 Portlaoise - Heuston on December 4,  3 Lewd Behaviour at Portarlington on December 8, Aggressive behaviour at Portlaoise station on December 11 and “fighting (other)” reported at/on P225 19:25 Portlaoise - Heuston on December 20. 

There were numerous other incidents reported on trains which passed through Laois but it is unclear whether the incidents took place in the county or elsewhere. Theft, intoxication assault and aggression appear regularly in the list of recorded incidents. 

Irish Rail said: “There has been 325 incidents recorded for Q4 2023. There have been 40 assaults with seven assaults on employees. Theft of third-party property at 33 has increased, the highest incidence of these thefts being in the Northern (12) and Galway (7).” In another category, Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking related incidents, Irish Rail said 500 incidents were recorded in the three month period. 

A full list of incidents from the last quarter of 2023 can be found on the following link https://www.irishrail.ie/getmedia/63d2ca1b-79b3-4707-bb13-c82190a46472/23-Q4-Customer-Safety-and-Security-Report-Issue-1.pdf