Spiral of violence has Dubliners living in fear

But facing down ruthless gangs, armed to the teeth and ready to take a life without question, requires more than brave citizens willing to make a stand.

To tackle this problem, the State needs to marshal all resources available, including An Garda Síochána. There needs to be lockdown on the streets of Dublin, and more police on the ground. Known criminals must be targeted, and the State must step in and protect vulnerable communities, many of whom feel they have been abandoned.

Similar measures worked in Limerick, and there's no reason to believe they won't work in this instance. The message must be sent that gangs armed with sub-machine guns have no place in our society.

Five people have been shot dead in the last five months across the Greater Dublin area as this war has escalated. They include innocent victim Martin O'Rourke.

Now, ordinary, decent people are living in fear, with reports that some families are seeking to move out of their homes to escape the violence. Parents are fearful that their children may be caught in the cross-fire.

The primary focus for these criminals is the multi-million euro drug trade. They have no regard to what their neighbours think. They are solely concerned with proving who is the biggest player on their turf.

But tackling the gangland scourge requires more than just a short-term response. More community-based gardaí are needed across parts of the city where gang violence has caused such untold misery.

Vulnerable young people, attracted by the prospect of easy money, must also be shown there is an alternative to the gangland life. That will take time, effort and resources, but unless it's tackled, the spiral of violence will continue.

Kenny agrees grubby price to cling to power

Sixty-one days and counting. Unfortunately, this isn't a countdown - more like Groundhog Day.

The nation has given up on holding its breath for the political classes to get their act together on putting a government together. Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil gave up long ago on either party showing the gumption to put the country first.

The Civil War parties have found a new frontline - water charges. Enda Kenny and Micheál Martin played chicken to see who will capitulate first. How immature.

And Kenny has folded like a deck of cards. In his quest to become the first Fine Gael leader to return to power as Taoiseach in consecutive elections, Kenny has agreed his grubby price. He has surrendered on water charges, which will now be unlikely to return for years to come.

The deal will be spun as a temporary suspension pending the deliberations of a series of talking shops. But the grubby truth is Kenny is willing to do anything to cling to power, including selling out on Fine Gael's core principles and betraying those who abided by the law of the land by paying their bills.

He'll be back as Taoiseach but his days will be numbered.