Dublin seagulls 'have lost run of themselves', says Irish senator Published duration 17 July 2014

image copyright SPL image caption Ned O'Sullivan said seagulls in Dublin were threatening to attack children

Seagulls in Dublin have "lost the run of themselves", an Irish senator has said.

Ned O'Sullivan told the Seanad (Irish senate) that the birds are keeping people awake at night and stealing food.

He said the birds are threatening to attack children in an attempt to steal sweets.

The County Kerry senator added that they were not seagulls in the true sense of the word, but were scavengers.

He asked the new Environment Minister Alan Kelly to act quickly to deal with the birds.

Mr O'Sullivan said that although the issue might sound funny, it was a serious problem.