Incident in Poppintree Park

Statment - I am aware of an incident involving the assault of three runners that occurred in Poppintree Park, Ballymun on Saturday.

I understand that the Gardaí are investigating the incident. This incident has alarmed many park users, particularly the park run community who make such great use of the park each week for this community event

. Poppintree parkrun is community at its best — every Saturday, neighbours of every age and background run, jog, walk and volunteer side by side, and for many years the Sanctuary Runners have been a welcome part of that. Saturday's attack is the opposite of everything the parkrun community stands for. Violence and hate has no place there.

There is currently a video circulating on social media which I would ask to not be shared given the ongoing Garda investigation. I condemn this attack in the strongest terms. People should be able to freely and peacefully run and socialise on the weekend, without the fear of being attacked. My thoughts are currently with the three individuals who experienced this horrible incident."_