THE shocking decline of crime-ridden Dublin city and rampaging burglary gangs in rural areas are two areas dominating the General Election agenda.
Candidates are being bombarded with complaints by furious citizens fed up at the sense of lawlessness which has set in across Ireland.
Rural Independent candidate Michael Fitzmaurice warned we are “in big trouble” while Labour Party’s Marie Sherlock, running in Dublin city, is saddened by the fear being felt by ordinary people.
Although the number of gangland murders have dropped dramatically since 2018 after the Gardai’s successes against the Kinahan cartel during its feud with the Hutch faction, organised crime gangs still pose a major threat.
At present, one of the main priorities for the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau is to target the transnational mobs swamping Ireland with cocaine, synthetic drugs and firearms.
And in Ireland’s major cities, drug dealing continues to pose major problems along with drug-related intimidation of people from all walks of life.
Alongside the sale of drugs in our major towns and cities, Gardai are also dealing with street level drug dealing, robberies, burglaries, assault, domestic violence, coercive control, sexual assaults and attacks on retail stores.
Our CCTV shows some of the shocking incidents of brazen robberies and intimidation at retail outlets in the heart of Dublin.
Dublin Town CEO Richard Guiney warned: “If the current reality of Dublin city centre is hidden from, and the necessary interventions not made, it will continue on a spiral of decline.
“That would have massive implications for the Irish economy and Ireland’s position on the international stage.
“Dublin city centre is at a pivotal moment. Footfall is trending downwards, the public believes the city experience is deteriorating, they do not feel safe and they want that to change.”
And investigators are also dealing with cyber crime including phishing scams, romance fraud and other online scams.
Other crimes prevalent in 2024 include threats being made on social media, hate crimes, the spread of mis-information, motorbike thefts and bike thefts.
Ahead of the election on November 29, Labour Party candidate Ms Sherlock told how crime was an “enormous issue”.
She said: “It’s sad to hear people saying Dublin and other communities aren’t safe and that’s why I believe the issue of crime is a major factor in this election.
“I think we have a really stretched police force at the moment and the new government needs to have a minister who listens to Gardai and to communities.
“The new government needs to think about opening a new Garda college, identify key issues for recruitment and address the issue of retaining existing Gardai.”
CRIMINAL’S CLAIMS
Things are so bad in Dublin Central that veteran gangster Gerry Hutch has said he wants more Gardai on the streets.
Much of the drugs flooding the streets come via his mob, but The Monk has insisted: “There’s a massive policing problem.”
He has told voters on his posters: “We need change and I’m your man.”
And for people living in rural Ireland, their experience of crime is different compared to the big towns and cities.
At present, organised burglary gangs based in Dublin continue to target homes in isolated communities.
RURAL RAIDS
Just last month, Gardai launched a major op against suspected burglary gang members understood to have been involved in over 100 raids on homes.
In some of the cases, officers believe the raiders — who use high powered vehicles — were using night vision goggles as they tried to keep one step ahead of the Gardai.
The hoods have made millions from their crime sprees over the years by stealing cash, cars and jewellery from homes.
And the issue of the theft of plant machinery also remains a big issue in rural communities. Earlier this month, Gardai in Longford and Meath investigated a spate of thefts of quad bikes, trailers and excavators.
“There’s a massive policing problem.”
Gerry Hutch
Detectives in rural areas across Ireland have also had to investigate the theft of thousands of cigarettes from rural garages.
Independent candidate Mr Fitzmaurice told how rural crime was “rampant” across Ireland.
Mr Fitzmaurice added: “We are in big trouble because we don’t have the garda numbers to target these criminal gangs.
“Rural crime is out of control and so it’s imperative that the new government identifies this as a key priority. My fear is that someone could be seriously injured if people living in rural areas have to use force to defend their property.”
BRTUAL MURDER
In an interview with The Irish Sun, David French, whose sister Valerie was brutally murdered by her husband James Kilroy, 51, at their home in Co Mayo on June 14, 2019, has called on all political parties to include ‘Valerie’s Law’ in their manifestos.
The law calls on the Government to introduce legislation which removes the guardianship rights of parents if they have been convicted of killing their wife, husband, partners or ex-partners.
The issue has also been addressed by Justice Minister Helen McEntee, who said: “A team has been established in my department to review and progress other recommendations made in the review, including a recommendation on restricting parental rights in cases of domestic homicide.”
NEW LAW NEEDED
At present, Kilroy remains a guardian for Valerie’s three children despite receiving a life sentence for inflicting 57 injuries on the occupational therapist in a horrific knife and hatchet attack.
David, 55, said: “This is very straightforward legislation that should be a priority for the new government. Once the new government is in power, I will again be calling on them to draft the legislation so that it can be brought into law as soon as possible.
“This legislation is very important for families and someone like Kilroy, who deprived Valerie’s children of a devoted mother, should not have these guardianship rights.”
