Dublin vintage store praises ‘amazing’ low-cost window repairs after riots

A city centre business owner has praised the “amazing” gesture by one Dublin glass repair company of a low-cost window fix for those impacted by the riots last week.

Terri Murphy and husband David are the owners of The Big Smoke Vintage, in Merchant’s Arch, Temple Bar, where the windows were damaged during widespread rioting last Thursday evening.

The major damage to shops and businesses focused on O’Connell Street, but according to Mr Murphy, the crowds descended into Temple Bar at one point:

“I spoke to the bouncer that works on the door at The Old Storehouse Bar and Restaurant, and he said that when the guards had corralled the crowds down the quay, they took a left through Merchant’s Arch, and that’s how the damage happened,” he said.

“The damage wasn’t done with their hands or broken easily; it looks like a glass breaker was used, the type emergency services would use to break high-pressure glass; it was planned.

“That’s the level of thinking that went into it, and there were about five or six different breaks on each panel, so they took some time to do that,” he added.

Mr Murphy was put in touch with Danielle Tutty, from Rathmines Glass, who acted quickly to help the business owner fix the shop windows, and she’s still continuing to finish vital repairs.

“We were put in touch by people linking us through social media, and it was a couple of hours later before she was down measuring the glass for repair,” he said.

“It turns out we have some type of specialist glass, but Danielle found a way of getting that for us; she’s been incredible.

“I don’t think we would have been out of this situation if it wasn’t for her; the cost would have been astronomical, and we’re only newly trading in the Big Smoke.”

Rathmines Glass said they will only charge the cost of materials and will fix broken windows for free for any small business impacted by the riots in Dublin last week.

Mr Murphy also said he’s noticed an “influx in anti-social behaviour and petty theft” in the city centre in recent months.

“We’ve noticed it just kind of getting worse and worse,” he said. “I think it’s just gotten a little bit rougher for traders, and there is a bit of fear where we do need to have extra staff on for that exact reason.

“Since the riots happened, there’s obviously a weird feeling around the place, but the increased garda presence has been welcomed. It’s just about how long that’s going to last.”

Mr Murphy also noted that for what is usually their “busiest time of year” in the lead up to Christmas, footfall numbers have been noticeably lower.

“We have more staff rostered on for obvious reasons and the payroll now per month is going to be doubled. But the revenue coming in and the footfall numbers aren’t matching that increase,” he said.

“We’re just going to have to see how it pans out over the next four weeks until Christmas. This should’ve been our busiest time.”

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