‘Marina mafia' – Seaside town being terrorised by vicious seagulls as victims say ‘they don't care if they hurt you'
DERANGED gulls are holding a quaint seaside town hostage, stalking locals and tourists alike like winged pickpockets - and they aren't afraid to attack.
Visitors hoping for a scenic seaside stroll are finding themselves being ambushed by feathered fiends with ice cream flying and chips snatched mid-air.
7
Vicious seagulls have been terrorising the people of Howth this summer
Credit: Garrett White - Commissioned by The Sun Dublin
7
The pesky birds are robbing food and attacking unexpecting visitors
Credit: Garrett White - Commissioned by The Sun Dublin
7
Tourists have shared their horror stories about 'the mafia of the marina'
Credit: Garrett White - Commissioned by The Sun Dublin
7
And businesses in the seaside town said they have had enough
Credit: Garrett White - Commissioned by The Sun Dublin
Restaurant owners, locals and visitors in Howth have all shared horror stories of being robbed blind by what has been referred to as 'the mafia of the marina'.
And residents say they have stopped eating outdoors because it's just too risky.
Frank Nolan, who's lived in Howth for over 40 years, said: 'They're waiting in the sky and they're watching. They've no fear anymore.
'They go for the kids too, I seen a gull just yank an ice cream from this one girl's mouth.
"The kid was traumatised. I'm sure she won't even look at the birds now.'
And it's not just
Danielle from the nearby Pier House Restaurant said: 'We had people getting attacked by them before. Especially the customers who sit outside, sometimes you can't avoid it.
'We feel terrible and have warned customers in the past. A lot of the time they come in to say they've had their food stolen.
'But there's not much we can do, they are such a nuisance.'
A frightened mum says she is being terrorised by a rowdy seagull nesting outside her front door - which the council refuse to remove
And a Leo Burdock's worker also said the winged thieves harass customers all summer long.
He said: 'We are very used to them but it's more the tourists and customers who we feel bad for - it happens all the time, these massive seagulls coming in and taking all of their food.
'A few days ago, some lads were messing about and dropped a chip onto the floor and next thing you know a whole gang of seagulls came.
'Only recently a seagull took all of this American tourist's food. I felt so bad, she was a very kind lady, when she came in again I gave her free chips.
'I think something should be done about it, not for us but for the customers and tourists.'
'I WAS IN SHOCK'
A similar sentiment was shared down the road at the ice cream parlour Little Moo, where worker and local Erin O'Flaherty said she's even been victimised herself.
She said: 'They come in to the shop all of the time, we've had people only got ice creams and they're attacked straight away.
'I've seen it myself, I remember a while ago I was eating an ice cream and a seagull went for it - I was in shock.
"If you're ever walking around and you have anything in your hand, they will go straight for it.'
He said: 'It's my first time here and I've already been attacked.
'We were just walking back to the car with fish and chips, and I swear to God one came down and hit me in the head.
'For a second I thought I had been bitten, they are huge and vicious and they don't care if they hurt you."
American Quinn Pierce said he witnessed with his own eyes how vicious the birds can be.
He said: 'They're everywhere, if you get food they will attack you for it.
'I can see why people avoid eating outside, you might not get to eat anything - I've seen people today just get up and leave because of them.'
IRISH LAW
And unfortunately for most, there really isn't much anyone can do about the pesky birds as they are protected under Irish
It is illegal to kill, injure, capture or disturb any wild bird or to interfere with its nest or eggs.
This includes touching or handling seagulls, removing nests or attempting to move chicks - even if the birds are simply on your
Any such actions without a licence from the National Parks and Wildlife Service can also result in prosecution, with penalties including fines of up to €5,000.
Back in the village, shop workers at the Gem Howth all agreed that they are a major problem.
One worker said: 'They're an absolute nuisance, we see them come into the shop and annoy customers
'They're always out there picking at our bins but you can't get rid of them.'
They go for the kids too, I seen a gull just yank an ice cream from this one girl's mouth.
Local Frank Nolan
And it seems that it is an issue that has plagued the seaside village for years.
And visitor Eileen Daly says she remembers hearing horrifying stories as a
She said: 'A long time ago when I was young there was stories going around that one of them snatched a baby.
'I'm sure it wasn't true but they are very large birds. Now personally I would be afraid to leave anything around them - my nerves would be gone.'
'STOP FEEDING THE GULLS'
But not everyone is against the seagulls.
Lee French, from the UK, said he thinks people are just overreacting and they should stop feeding them.
He said: 'They're just scavengers doing what they've always done.
'If people stopped leaving food everywhere and feeding them chips all of the time, maybe the gulls wouldn't be so bold.'
And Karen Sheridan, from Howth's Tourism Office, said feeding the birds is only making the matter worse.
She said: 'When I'm sitting here in the summer and I hear screams, it's usually a group of girls, and I know what's going on.
'I see them running down the road and seagulls following them for their food.
'It's really dangerous. I've had lots of people come in over the years - stolen ice creams, and I've heard even mobile phones getting robbed too.
"The only thing I can say is to not feed the seagulls - it can't be good for them anyway eating chips all of the time.'
7
Locals have stopped eating outdoors all together
Credit: Garrett White - Commissioned by The Sun Dublin
7
The birds are even attacking children
Credit: Garrett White - Commissioned by The Sun Dublin
7
Tourism bosses have asked visitors not to feed the birds
Credit: Garrett White - Commissioned by The Sun Dublin
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Conor McGregor sports suspect eye as UFC thug dances with wife on yacht in first sighting since horror Ibiza attack
CONOR MCGREGOR has broken cover after his 6am Ibiza nightclub punch-up. The UFC star appeared to sport a bruised eye as he soaked up the sun with 9 Conor McGregor appeared to sport a bruised eye as he broke cover following his Ibiza nightclub brawl Credit: BackGrid 9 The 36-year-old packed on the PDA with fiancee Dee Devlin Credit: BackGrid 9 McGregor was all smiles despite his nightclub brawl earlier in the week Credit: BackGrid 9 The UFC star is currently in the Spanish party capital of Ibiza Credit: BackGrid 9 McGregor had not been spotted since the brawl on Tuesday morning Credit: BackGrid 9 Video obtained by The Sun showed McGregor throwing two punches at another partygoer Credit: The Sun McGregor packed on the PDA with Devlin on a private yacht in the Spanish party capital. The pair were spotted dancing the afternoon away and sharing a smooch in the marina. But an apparent red mark could be seen on McGregor's face, who had not been seen the ex-UFC fighter, 36, striking a man in the infamous Pacha nightclub on Tuesday morning. READ MORE ON CONOR MCGREGOR The Notorious appeared to connect with two punches in the shocking incident. An eyewitness told The Sun the reveller was removed from the club while McGregor partied on. One said: "Clearly something's been said to annoy him and he's reacted very badly. 'The guy seemed to fall to the floor, and his mates came to pick him up and get him away. Most read in MMA BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK "There [didn't appear to be any] consequences for Conor, but the guy he punched was taken away and I didn't see him again." Another club-goer said: "He had his arm around someone who looked like his mate. Shocking moment UFC thug Conor McGregor pummels club reveller with TWO brutal punches in packed Ibiza nightclub "Someone came up to them and when Conor hit him, about five people fell to the floor as the guy stumbled back. "It was a bit like bowling pins, but the guy was really shaken by the hits. "About a minute later, the bouncers came and got him on the back and took him out of the club, because he had annoyed Conor. "It was right before close anyway. There was no messing around, they just removed him. "Conor left through the garden a bit later, he didn't look very happy that they got into a fight." The reveller's identity was revealed in a now-deleted Instagram post by club mogul Wayne Lineker - brother of England legend Gary. He took two punches from Conor McGregor in Pacha for absolutely no reason. Wayne Lineker McGregor had been snapped earlier in the evening at Lineker's O Beach club alongside . He was also joined at the event by Wayne later said he was "disappointed" with McGregor for attacking his employee and friend Joe Gomez. The 63-year-old wrote: "This is my very close friend who has worked at Ocean for eight years, he has the most special heart and in all of the years that I've known him he has never raised his voice once. "He took two punches from Conor McGregor in Pacha for absolutely no reason. "Let me introduce you to Joe Gooomez (sic). He took the punches like a champion." 9 Wayne Lineker claimed the reveller struck by McGregor was his pal Joe Gomez (right) Credit: INstagram 9 McGregor had partied at Lineker's O Beach Club ahead of the incident Credit: INSTAGRAM @waynelineker 9 McGregor also shared a snap with Katie Price in Ibiza Credit: INSTAGRAM @thenotoriousmma Lineker also deleted a snap of him partying with the MMA legend, who rocked a white hat and cigar for the occasion. He continued: "I've since deleted my post of Conor at Ocean on Sunday. To say I'm disappointed is an understatement. "We at Ocean Beach McGregor made his UFC debut in April 2013. He quickly won over fight fans with his mix of fast hands and aggressive grappling. The Notorious has tasted victory in 22 of his 28 pro fights, but hasn't entered the octagon since a rematch loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021.
The Irish Sun
4 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Ex-police officer fired for ‘intimidating teenager' helps tackle shoplifter
AN ex-police officer sacked for intimidating an arrested teen has brought down a shoplifter. Former PC Lorne Castle tackled the crook as he fled a Nike store with stolen goods on Thursday. The 46-year-old held his arms and kneeled astride him until ex-police pals arrived and arrested the alleged thief. It was the same day the fight gym boss decided to appeal against a decision by Dorset police to The dad put his hand in the teen's face and failed to show 'respect'. But the Nike store boss praised Lorne's latest action in Bournemouth for being 'extremely pleasant and courteous'. READ MORE ON SHOPLIFTING Supporter Norman Brennan, a retired policeman, said: 'It was a citizen's arrest by the sort of officer the public wants.' The father-of-three has had lots of public support since the A GoFundMe campaign to support him and his family has raised over £120,000. Dorset Police was approached for comment. Most read in The Sun Thief banned from every Greggs store in Britain after targeting one shop SEVEN times as cops launch crackdown 1 Former cop Lorne Castle took down a shoplifter in Bournemouth, after being fired from the force Credit: BNPS
Irish Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Conor McGregor links up with Celtic manager days after 'punch' incident in Ibiza
Conor McGregor has linked up with Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers in Ibiza. Taking to social media on Friday evening, McGregor shared a snap of himself with the Hoops boss, who was holding a baby in the picture. "LEGENDARY DOUBLE CHAMP LINK UP! NEXT YEAR, TREBLE! GOD IS GREAT! @CelticFC @ufc Congrats to the Rodgers family on the new addition to their family," wrote the UFC fighter on social media. Rodgers' meeting with McGregor comes just days after the Irishman was involved in an altercation in an Ibiza nightclub. In the early hours of Tuesday, at Pacha nightclub, The Sun released footage that allegedly showed the Irishman appearing to peer down to address an unidentified man in the middle of the dancefloor. Merely moments later, the 36-year-old appeared to throw two punches. The man hit the deck, and onlookers have since come forward to recount their version of the alleged incident. One individual - who saw the whole thing - claimed there did not appear to be any consequences for the former dual-weight UFC champion. "The guy seemed to fall to the floor, and his mates came to pick him up and get him away," he told The Sun. "There [didn't appear to be any] consequences for Conor." Another said: "About five people fell to the floor as the guy stumbled back. It was a bit like bowling pins, but the guy was really shaken." They added: "About a minute later, the bouncers came and got him on the back and took him out of the club." "It was right before close anyway," they continued. "There was no messing around; they just removed him. Conor left through the garden a bit later; he didn't look very happy." McGregor has since revealed that he was in Ibiza after flying his soccer teammates out to the Spanish island. The MMA fighter has been competing in an over 35's league with his pub team, and recently took home a league title. "To celebrate winning the league I took the @blackforgeinn football squad away on holiday to Ibiza! All expenses paid, VIP's," the Dubliner wrote on social media as he shared a number of photos and videos from the trip. He continued: "LEAGUE CHAMPIONS, BABY! Reach out, link up, join a team! Get active! For the sake of your mental health you will thank yourself! #ibizapartyisland."
