Residents of Limerick East are determined to take action against further crime in their region. Following a meeting held on May 15 to drum up ideas on combating a serious increase in burglaries and assaults in the Pallasgreen, Doon and Cappamore areas, a further shocking crime took place in which three elderly siblings were tied up, assaulted and robbed. “These are some kind of sadistic criminals who are not afraid of the consequences of their actions,” said, David Thompson who is heading up a community movement against crime.
Speaking to the Limerick Post he said:
“The victims will never get a good night’s sleep again; There is no compensation for that”.
Mr Thompson believes that the law is too lenient on those carrying out such aggressive crimes.
“These are professional criminals at work and all they are getting is a month’s probation, which is suspended because they have spent that time in custody, despite having had, maybe hundreds, of previous convictions.
“People in East Limerick, covering areas from Oola, Murroe, Dromkeen and Kilteely, are living in fear which has grown to an extent that they are no longer asking ‘what is next’ but ‘who is next?’”
Mr. Thompson, along with a large group of locals, has been working with the gardaí to come up with a system to tackle relentless crime in the area.
“We have been working on a system to help the gardaí that is second to none involving a series of text alerts.
“I’m meeting with the superintendent next week and the Garda Commission is looking into it, so we are appealing to them to come to a conclusion on the matter to allow us proceed full speed ahead to get it in action”.
Doon Garda Station closed earlier this year and there is one garda in place in Oola.
“It was suggested to me that mobile phones could be taken from rural guards, which is mad because modern technology is the one way of contacting them and of course they should all have phones,” said Mr Thompson who believes that someone needs to take a stand.
“But we need the help of the government and the guards if we are to be successful. We have to come up with punishments for these criminals that fit the crime because at present they are not afraid of the consequences”.
A further community meeting is to be organised to inform locals of plans as soon as any advances are made.
Meantime, a 27-year-old man has been charged at Limerick District Court in connection with two aggravated burglaries in the county. William Gammell of An Cuirt, Monard, Co Tipperary was remanded in custody with the possibility of further charges being brought.
He is also charged with impeding the arrest of a person.
