asked the Minister for Justice whether he is aware that in the West Waterford area there has been a series of outrages in which persons living alone have been attacked by gangs at night and brutally beaten up and robbed; if so, if he will state the number of such outrages which have occurred to date; whether any arrests have been made by the gardaí; if, as an emergency measure, he will have additional gardaí drafted into the area to deal with the problem; and if he will make a statement.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Waterford Outrages
44.
I assume that the question refers to the fact that since May 1970 five instances have occurred in which persons living alone have had money and some other property taken from their homes in the West Waterford area. However, in one of these cases there was no question of personal violence. In the others, generally speaking—I do not want to particularise since the matter may become an issue in court proceedings—the expression "brutally beaten up" would not be justified but of course when a person is living alone, especially an old person, even a suggestion of violence can be extremely terrifying.
There has been one acquittal and one conviction in one of these cases, but the conviction is being appealed against.
Extra gardaí have already been sent to the area and other special measures have been taken by the gardaí in this and adjoining areas.
Is the Minister not aware that the people in West Waterford have been living in fear for a number of months past and that there seems to be a breakdown of law and order in the area due in the main to the inadequacy of gardaí supervision? In the circumstances, can the Minister assure the people concerned they will be protected in their lives and property, an assurance they have a right to expect from the Minister for Justice?
Since May last there have been five robberies at night in this area and the steps which the gardaí have taken and which I referred to in a general way are that an additional inspector and sergeant have been allocated to Dungarvan and two extra uniformed gardaí and one extra detective have been allocated to Ardmore. In addition, a patrol car had been assigned to Ardmore. It is only fair to say that the considerable influx of gardaí shows the serious way in which the Garda regard these incidents, and shows the great trouble they are going to in order to solve these crimes.
Since the Minister has seen fit to make light of this matter——
On the contrary.
Is he aware that the Garda spokesman there is on record as saying that old people were afraid to sleep in their beds and were spending the nights in haybarns——
Would the Deputy tell us what he is reading from?
——that there has been an increase in applications for shotguns and rifles——
It is not in order for the Deputy to quote.
I am sorry if I transgressed but I feel it necessary to enlighten the Minister on the matters referred to by the Garda Superintendent. Is the Minister not further aware that the lack of supervision in the area has been very largely attributed to the closing of small Garda stations and to the extension of the activities of the already depleted Garda force who, with the application of the recent recommendations in regard to conditions of employment, can have only a quarter of the force utilised at one given time? What has the Minister done about recruitment to end this growing incidence of crime which is not only applicable to Waterford but which extends to all areas?
The Deputy is making a statement.
When the speech ends perhaps I can say something. I have already said that an extra number of gardaí and extra equipment have been moved into this area. Many of the gardaí are engaged full-time in the investigation of these incidents and I think it is unfair of the Deputy to suggest that efforts are not being made to cope with the situation.
Damn well the Minister knows there is not sufficient action in the matter.