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Dubs dig deep for crime victim

Thursday, 06 March 2008

AN ENGLISH tourist who was robbed on a recent trip to Dublin has been overwhelmed by the generosity of Dubliners who helped his family get back home.
Shaun Wallen from Southampton fell victim to the capital’s crime problem when his wallet was snatched from him as he waited for a bus to the airport from the city centre, just an hour before he was due to fly home.
The petty thief caused unimaginable heartache for the family who subsequently missed their flight and were left without money to buy food or pay for somewhere to stay for the night.
“I had no identification for my flight home, I didn’t have any bank card or any money to get the kids something to eat or a bed to sleep in for the night,” he told Northside People.
“I didn’t know what to do.”
Shaun and his young daughter Amy and son Harry were boarding a bus bound for the airport when the theft occurred.
“I knew I wouldn’t be let on the flight without my ID so we were stranded, penniless and pretty helpless - except for the generosity of so many people in Dublin,” Shaun recalled.
“A lady in the Dublin Bus office on O’Connell Street really helped us out by calling the Gardai. She also occupied the kids and gave us a ‘Rambler’ ticket for the next day.
“Everywhere was closing and we still didn’t have even have a cent until Garda Karl Connor handed us e50 which he’d taken out of his own wallet.”
Shaun added: “I couldn’t believe how generous he was. That is definitely not something that would happen in England.”
The Southampton family had more good fortune when another Dubliner overheard their predicament and offered the trio e20.
“The man, who was waiting at the bus stop with us, asked the kids if they were having a good holiday and they explained what happened,” Shaun explained.
“He handed me e20, hopped on a bus and was gone in a few seconds.
“I had renewed faith in the good nature of people in Dublin.”
And the silver lining didn’t end there for the Wallen family.
“We were on the 16A bus later that evening when a woman overheard the kids and I chatting about whether the thief would be caught when she too handed us her own hard-earned cash,” Shaun said.
“I was shocked that so many people could be so generous and selfless and I’m eternally grateful for the money they gave us which paid for a hotel room for us for the night.”
However, Shaun’s family are reluctant to visit Dublin again as the incident had greatly affected his seven-year-old son who suffers from autism.
“Harry has become increasingly fearful as he doesn’t understand how and why theft occurs,” Shaun explained.
“Ever since we got back from our trip to Ireland he insists on locking the front door of our house himself.”
“He has to put the keys away himself so that he feels safe.
“Hopefully, this is something that will pass but I think it is important to show how victims are affected by crime. These mindless thieves who steal don’t know or maybe don’t care what pain they cause to people.”

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