Dublin Narcos

Ordinary Decent Criminals is a documentary that examines the escalating levels of violence in Dublin. It also charts the rise of drug addiction and organised crime, spanning the period from the 1980s to the present day. The programme provides a chronological overview of these intertwined issues, highlighting how they have shaped Dublin’s social landscape over the decades.

Ordinary Decent Criminals is a television programme presented as a documentary series. Classified under the episode genre, it offers a factual account rather than a fictional narrative. The show positions itself as an investigative look into Dublin's recent history, focusing on social issues that have shaped the city over recent decades, and aims to inform viewers about its evolution. The core of the series follows the increase in violent incidents, the spread of drug addiction, and the growth of organised crime within Dublin. Starting in the 1980s, it traces how each of these elements has intensified, providing a chronological picture of the city’s escalating challenges, and examines the social repercussions that followed. By charting these developments, the documentary paints a clear picture of how the intertwining of violence, narcotics, and criminal networks has affected everyday life. It highlights the cumulative impact on communities, showing how the rise in one area often fuels growth in another, creating a complex web of social problems, and underscores the difficulty of breaking the cycle. The series continues its examination up to the present day, offering viewers a contemporary snapshot of Dublin’s ongoing struggle with these issues. This up‑to‑date perspective allows the programme to link past trends with current realities, underscoring the lasting influence of the 1980s onward on the city’s present condition, providing context for future policy discussions.