‘Marina mafia' – Seaside town being terrorised by vicious seagulls as victims say ‘they don't care if they hurt you'

The Irish Sun

a day ago

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.
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Vicious seagulls have been terrorising the people of Howth this summer
Credit: Garrett White - Commissioned by The Sun Dublin
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The pesky birds are robbing food and attacking unexpecting visitors
Credit: Garrett White - Commissioned by The Sun Dublin
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Tourists have shared their horror stories about 'the mafia of the marina'
Credit: Garrett White - Commissioned by The Sun Dublin
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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.'
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Locals have stopped eating outdoors all together
Credit: Garrett White - Commissioned by The Sun Dublin
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The birds are even attacking children
Credit: Garrett White - Commissioned by The Sun Dublin
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Tourism bosses have asked visitors not to feed the birds
Credit: Garrett White - Commissioned by The Sun Dublin