NOTE: This article discusses racist and xenophobic violence
Several residents of Kavanagh Court, a Yugo student accommodation residence that has had a partnership with Trinity accommodation since 2017, have spoken out against what one student called a “sharp increase” in antisocial behaviour around the residence.
Video and photo evidence provided by sources and from internet forums such as Reddit show a large group of around 10 to 20 local youths around Kavanagh Court kicking down the front entrance gate, throwing eggs at reception workers and students, and breaking the windshield of a nearby car with a traffic cone.
Marta Perez, who has been working as a residence manager at Kavanagh for about a month, has also confirmed that at least seven windows leading to private rooms have been broken by the youths recently, namely in C and E block of the residence.
“This past weekend was the worst incident we’ve had,” said Perez, in a statement to The University Times.
According to Keaton Pier, a first-year student studying Politics and Social Policy, the Kavanagh Court residents group chat has collectively “noticed a trend in the people [the youths] are harassing … namely people of colour”.
“It seems us specifically at Kavanagh are experiencing this,” added Pier.
Noah Pangaribuan, a first-year Economics & Russian student, spoke to the University Times about his experiences being targeted by the group due to his race.
“They called me the ‘N’ word, they called me chink, they called me yellow face, slant, gook, zipperhead … It was like a Klan rally.”
“My friend met me at the door,” continued Pangaribuan. “He’s Irish, so he says ‘what is going on guys?’ and they say ‘we hate Americans and we hate whatever he is’”, in reference to Pangaribuan, who is ethnically Indonesian but grew up in the United States.
Another student, Adam McGrath, who lived in the accommodation from 2022 to 2024, spoke about his experience being held “at knifepoint” last year in the area. Since McGrath has left, he admitted that the situation “has gotten worse”.
“A friend of mine has had masked groups of teenagers bang on their ground-floor bedroom windows,” continued McGrath, “There were always people who drove dirt bikes on those streets, which were very loud. I’ve almost been hit by them going on the sidewalks. Once the new park was put in we would see the fireworks right outside. The flats on the lower floor than us would either get shot at or rocks thrown in their windows.”
Other students, such as Liam Hogan, a second-year Business student and resident of Kavanagh, told the University Times that a group of “hoodlums” have been targeting residents of Kavanagh for some time now. According to Hogan, the group has been “jumping people, egging people, shooting fireworks, and using racial slurs”.
“What are we paying, like 1300 euros a month, to just get jumped?” said Hogan.
“I was spit on a few days ago,” added Danny McGee, a Second Year Law & Political Science student. “I was hit with an egg through my window on the first floor on the southern side of the apartment complex. While my roommate was hit with a firework in the first several days he moved in.”
When the guards were called due to an unrelated incident involving several of the group breaking into Kavanagh, Pangaribuan further testified that “all they [Garda] did was talk to us, talk to the kids, they didn’t even do anything to the kids”.
Pier again seconded that most of the incidents are being caused by “children” whom she referred to as being “around 12 to 16 years old”.
Several other students, including Pier, McGee and Pangaribuan, expressed dissatisfaction with the Garda response thus far.
“There’s a lack of parental oversight [of the youths], and in my interactions with the Garda, there isn’t an interest in solving it on their end,” said McGee.
Despite all this, Perez has denied that there is a significant danger to students in the accommodation. “It’s not dangerous, they are just kids, they are 10 years old.”
“I can understand what is so scary about that situation, but honestly I think [residents] are safe here.”
In their statement to The University Times regarding this issue, the College said the following:
“Trinity is aware of these incidents and takes them very seriously. The safety of our students is of paramount concern to the university. We are committed to doing all we can to support the wellbeing of all students, including those resident at Kavanagh Court. We are liaising with all relevant authorities in this regard and will continue to work with Yugo and other stakeholders in Dublin on this. Additional security measures are being introduced at the residence immediately.”
The additional security measures in question include the posting of “additional security” outside the accommodation, according to an email from Yugo to residents about this issue. The email further states that Yugo has obtained permission to “raise the perimeter fencing around Block D, near the park”, an area that, according to multiple residents, is a hotbed for antisocial activities.
The front gate to the accommodation, appearing to be breached by the group of youths multiple times in video, will also be replaced, after Yugo admitted that the door has been “intermittently functioning” due to damage caused by the youths.
“We are aware that the main entrance door has been damaged and is intermittently functioning, a contractor has been engaged to replace this door fully, ensuring greater security and reliability.”
“We are just trying to act as fast as we can”, added Perez. “I think everything we can do, we are doing it … For the past few nights, we’ve had security, we’ve had no incidents.”
A spokesperson for An Garda Síochána said the following when asked for comment about these incidents:
“An Garda Síochána remains firmly committed to tackling anti-social behaviour across North Dublin through a multi-layered strategy that includes high-visibility policing, intelligence-led operations, and robust community engagement.”
“Our Youth Diversion Programme also plays a key role in early intervention offering young people a pathway from offending behaviour through support, guidance, and restorative practices.”
In a separate email, asking for a clarifying statement specifically in regards to misuse of fireworks, throwing eggs, and other incidents described previously by students at Kavanagh, a spokesperson for the Gardaí added they had “nothing matching the description” of the incidents:
“There is nothing matching the description of the incident you have provided on our system at this time.
An Garda Síochána takes hate crime very seriously. Every hate crime reported to An Garda Síochána is professionally investigated and victims supported during the criminal justice process.
An Garda Síochána continues to encourage any victim of any crime to report this to An Garda Síochána including any indication that the crime may have a hate motivation.”
Yugo added that any student experiencing violence at Kavanagh Court should report the incidents to Dublin City Council.
