asked the Minister for Justice if he has received a report from the gardaí in regard to incidents of attacks on women and children in the Sandymount area of Dublin; and, if so, what action was taken in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Attacks on Women and Children.
43.
Since 1st January, 1967, four reports of assaults on women or children in the Sandymount area were received by the Garda. One was in September and the remaining three in October.
I think there can be no doubt that the inference which the public have drawn from the newspaper publicity given to the reports in these cases was that they were indecent assaults.
The facts are that in one case, publicised as a very serious one, the Garda Síochána, after full inquiry, do not accept that any assault whatsoever took place. In two of the remaining three cases, there was no suggestion of an indecent assault — it was a matter of rowdyism, though, of course, I do not suggest that that is to be ignored. There has been only one case of indecent assault.
It is obvious, therefore, that the facts do not merit the alarming publicity that has been given to them. The Garda have, however, increased their patrols in the area since the indecent assault case in September.
Is the Minister aware that a parents' meeting took place in the area yesterday or the day before to which the Garda authorities sent representatives, and has he any information as to whether the parents resident in the area are satisfied the facts are as set out in his reply?
Two meetings took place. One was when the superintendent at Donnybrook gave parents details of patrol activities in the area and the other was when he and an inspector attended a meeting of residents. I do not think the Garda regard the situation as being as serious as the inflamed newspaper reports indicated. I suppose it is only natural that if newspapers bring out exaggerated headlines, parents will get anxious.
I do not want for a moment to exaggerate the situation but neither should the situation be inappropriately minimised. The Garda invited the parents to meet them for the purpose of devising precautions they should take, pending the apprehension of the person or persons who may have been responsible in the area. May we assume that the Minister will continue to pursue the close investigation and close vigilation of the area?
It was a good piece of public relations on the part of the Garda Síochána in an effort to calm feelings unnecessarily aroused and fears unnecessarily engendered. The main purpose of the Garda was to reassure parents of what the situation really was and what action the Garda were taking to deal with it.