A north-inner city community has threatened to cause major traffic chaos ahead of next month's U2 concert over protests against the area being "turned into a red light district".

Residents on Dublin's Dorset Street have repeatedly raised concerns about a number of premises in the area, which they say are being run as brothels.

Several complaints have been made to gardai in relation to the premises, but so far they are continuing to operate freely around the busy city centre street.

Now locals have threatened to cause severe traffic disruption on one of the city's busiest streets ahead of next month's U2 gig if their concerns are not acted upon.

Speaking to the Herald, Fianna Fail Dublin Central representative Brian Mohan said residents are "fed up" with the suspected brothels operating in their area.

Nothing

"This has been ongoing for a good while now, and gardai are aware of these businesses," said Mr Mohan.

"There's also concern about the welfare of the young girls working in these.

"We've been bringing this up with gardai for the last while but nothing has been done. In fairness, they know about the problem but their hands are tied to an extent. Locals are fed-up, with at least three premises in the area acting as brothels."

A small protest was held earlier this week outside one of the suspected brothels, but the residents have said they will "ramp up" their effort ahead of next month's U2 concert in Croke Park.

Dorset Street is one of the main routes through the city centre to the north Dublin stadium, where the concert is taking place on July 22.

"Next week there will be a protest again, and there's an agreement that if nothing is done then we'll be ramping it up for the U2 concert because gardai haven't done anything in years," said Mr Mohan.

"We'll be blocking off the road ahead of the U2 concert, which will cause a nightmare for the city and will finally bring the matter to the attention of the gardai."

Online Editors