Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 Mar 1993

Vol. 428 No. 1

Written Answers. - Violence Against the Elderly.

Bernard Allen

Question:

184 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to the fact that in recent weeks an elderly nun in Cork was seriously assaulted, and that this assault is the latest example of serious assaults taking place in the Cork area; and the steps, if any, she intends taking to combat such crime.

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn)

I am informed by the Garda Authorities that the incident referred to by the Deputy occurred on 11 February 1993 and is being fully investigated by the gardaí. I, of course, abhor such acts of violence particularly when they are aimed at the elderly and defenceless in our community. The Garda Authorities are totally committed to ensuring that the perpetrators of such attacks are vigorously pursued. I have been assured by the Garda Authorities that a number of specific measures have been taken to deal with the problems in the Cork area. These include:

—regular analysis of crime trends resulting in the surveillance of areas at risk and the targeting of Garda patrols to meet specific anti-crime needs in particular areas.

—the operation of the Crime Task Force Unit. This unit which was established last year is tailored to have maximum personnel on patrol during prime-crime periods and targets its activities at travelling and organised criminals and suspects for vicious attack such as that referred to in the Question. The unit which has a total strength of two Sergeants and 15 gardaí is already proving to be very successful.

—crime prevention advice given by the Crime prevention officer and members assigned to community policing and rural policing duties. In this respect attacks on nuns and priests are receiving specific attention. The Garda Community Relations Section have been undertaking a programme of crime prevention surveys of churches and presbyteries and I have asked them to include convents and other religious houses in this programme. The Garda Community Relations Section have also, in conjunction with Church and General Insurance Company, drawn up security recommendations for churches and pres-byteries and other religious houses and these will be available in leaflet form. Crime Prevention/Community Relations Officers are offering every possible assistance and advice to the religious and the subject was a special feature on the programme of a recent seminar for all Community Relations Officers at the Garda College.

—Gardaí being fully briefed on recent crime incidents and kept informed of developments in order to enable them to deal more effectively and swiftly with problems which arise.

—an emphasis on the greater use and closer co-ordination of foot and mobile patrols and the frequent use of checkpoints at various locations at unpredictable intervals.

I would like to assure the Deputy that the situation will be kept under review and that no effort will be spared to prevent and deal effectively with incidents of serious crime, in particular, those aimed at sections of the community most at risk.