PEOPLE in rural areas have reached such a level of fear that they are taking pitchforks to their bedroom, and in many instances are afraid to return home. One councillor has suggested that Spike Island should be reopened, and warns of a revolution in the country. Ongoing criminal activity has reached an alarming rate in the county. Now county councillors are calling for a review of the justice system to introduce a punishment relevant to the crime.
One representative has gone so far as to call for the reopening of Spike Island.
Referring to several incidents in the Pallasgreen area where elderly individuals were assaulted in their homes and robbed, Cllr Mary Harty said the community feels ‘under siege’.
“This behaviour is abhorred; to think we have been visited by such savagery is unbelievable,” Cllr Harty voiced at a Castleconnell area meeting.
“The gardaí have been very proactive but I wish there could be a successful resolution to this”.
The Minister for Justice, Alan Shatter, is responsible for curtailing the shocking activity, according to Cllr Eddie Wade.
“People have never been so angry as they are now in every townland in county Limerick.
“They are sleeping with pitchforks and don’t feel safe day or night.
“The Minister for Justice would want to open his eyes; There are people up in court with 69 or 79 previous convictions.
“Spike Island should be reopened before there is a revolution in this country”.
According to Cllr John Egan, there have been at least five incidents of residents targeted in their homes in recent weeks.
“I met a woman at a meeting in Boher the other night who was afraid to go home.
“The community don’t know what to do.
“These criminals can get free legal aid and be back on the streets again, while the decent people are suffering”.
“The punishment has to fit the crime”, believes Cllr Michael Sheahan. “There has to be consecutive sentences, not concurrent”.
Cllr Mary Jackman agreed that the activity in the county has been “putting the fear of God into residents, while Cllr Bridget Teefy said the crimes emphasised the need for retention of garda presence in the county.
“The gardaí there are excellent but they can only do so much”.
