asked the Minister for Justice the number of robberies which have been committed in County Donegal from 1st July to 1st December, 1977; and if he will list the name, and address and the total amount reported missing in each case.
Written Answers. - County Donegal Robberies.
219.
In reply to a question last week asking for similar information in relation to robberies in the country as a whole, I said that assembling some of the information sought would involve a search through the records of every Garda station and that I did not consider that the allocation of scarce Garda resources to such a task would be justified. While that is still the position as far as questions of this kind are concerned, there is a further consideration, namely, that the publication in this way of the names and addresses of victims of robberies would mean additional publicity which experience suggests would be regarded by many of those concerned, especially private individuals as distinct from institutions such as banks, as adding gratuitously to the injury already done to them. I am aware that names and addresses are usually published at the time of the crime and again in connection with court proceedings but even that kind of publicity, necessary though it often is, is regarded by many victims as unfortunate and most unwelcome. I do not think that additional publication at this point would serve any purpose sufficient to outweigh that consideration.
The number of robberies recorded as having been committed in County Donegal from 1st July to 1st December, 1977 is eight, of which seven were armed robberies. The amounts reported as taken ranged from £200 to £3,600.