VIOLENCE among teenagers and an increase in spontaneous attacks has reached “frightening levels” according to a Limerick solicitor who is urging would be offenders to “look in the mirror” before they strike.
Limerick solicitor Jerry Twomey, who specialises in personal injury claims with Frances Twomey & Co, believes that a worrying trend is developing.
“Having seen the effects and results of some of these random and spontaneous attacks, it’s more worrying that I have had more assault victim queries in the last six months than in all of the last five years,” he told the LImerick Post.
The number of random assaults involving teenagers has risen to 11 per cent of all assaults, up from 4 per cent in the previous three years.
“It’s frightening and devastating”, Mr Twomey said.
“We are not a violent city, but episodes of violence need to be addressed. Not by the authorities alone, but most importantly by the perpetrators themselves and their parents.
“Before they attack, these people need to look in the mirror because some of the victims have to look in the mirror and see the results of those attacks and the injuries left behind.
There has been an increase in sudden, spontaneous or flash assaults that occur late at night and usually in a bar.
“These usually follow a bump, or a look, or a remark or some other tension that then explodes to the shock of everyone involved – it’s all pretty needless”.
Some of the cases that have come before the courts recently include two men in their 20s who, in separate incidents, suffered fractured jaws from an unprovoked attacks. In another case, a young man lost the sight in an eye.
“The victim suffers both physical and psychological injuries. Many are left with what the Spanish call a ‘mirror injury’ – a facial scar that he will see every time he looks in the mirror for the rest of his life. Placed there by a coward who allowed himself lose control”.
Mr Twomey also questions if society’s acceptance of violence has changed and what role parents have.
“I am not blaming the boorish trash talk of Conor McGregor for an increase in violence. But it is certainly a factor. I am not blaming the years of Grand Theft Auto or Call Of Duty, but it certainly doesn’t have a zero effect. I am not blaming those who roar our underage boys into contact at sport every weekend.
“But not sitting with our children and teaching them that violence and aggression is not okay off the pitch and not okay off the screen is also certainly a factor,” he added.
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