Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 22 Oct 1991

Vol. 411 No. 4

Written Answers. - County Louth Garda Strength.

Brendan McGahon

Question:

23 Mr. McGahon asked the Minister for Justice if, following the murder of Thomas Oliver and the public threat by the IRA to a person living in the Cooley Peninsula of County Louth, he will outline the measures he proposes to take to increase the Garda presence in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Justice (Mr. Burke)

The Garda authorities have informed me that the strengths at Omeath and Dromad Garda stations are being increased by three members and one member respectively with effect from Friday next.

I am also informed that additional Garda patrols, including detective personnel, have been operating in the Cooley area in recent times. Where appropriate the Garda patrols are accompanied by units of the Defence Forces. I am further informed that extra patrols will be assigned to the area as resources permit and having regard to overall needs.

The brutal murder of this decent hardworking family man has — perhaps more than many others in the long list of atrocities for which the IRA has been responsible — produced not only widespread revulsion within this community but also a realisation that the threat they pose is directed at each and every one of us and at the institutions of this State. It is of the greatest importance that we now say to them, loud and clear, that we will not be intimidated by their bullying terror tactics. They must be left in no doubt that they will never succeed in their aim of destroying this State and its institutions, that we support and will co-operate with the forces of law and order and that we utterly reject their attempt to tarnish the very idea of co-operation by applying to it terminology which is not only completely out of place and out of date, but, in fact, amounts to a gross distortion of the truth. The truth is that co-operation with the forces of law and order is what every public-spirited citizen should see as his or her duty. Unless we reject the intimidation tactics applied by the IRA and continue to support the forces of law and order we play into the hands of the cowardly criminals who took unto themselves the right to slay Tom Oliver.