asked the Minister for Justice the number of murders which were committed in the State in each of the past ten years; and the number of such murders which remain unsolved to date.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unsolved Murder Cases.
151.
The answer is in the form of a tabular statement, which, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, will be circulated with the Official Report.
Following is the statement:—
|
Year |
Number of Murders* |
Number not solved |
|
1954 |
2 |
— |
|
1955 |
3 |
— |
|
1956 |
3 |
— |
|
1957 |
6 |
1 |
|
1958 |
7 |
2 |
|
1959 |
7 |
— |
|
1960 |
1 |
— |
|
1961 |
9 |
2 |
|
1962 |
3 |
1 |
|
1963 |
5 |
— |
|
Total |
46 |
6 |
*Figures are not included in respect of children under one year of age as the charge in such cases is almost invariably reduced to one of infanticide.
Does the Minister not realise that public anxiety in regard to this matter is rising steeply, particularly since it appears to be possible for a man and woman to walk into a house in the middle of the city, murder a lady in the presence of her sister and remain at large ever since that crime was committed? Can the Minister give us any indication as to whether this is going to be added to the list of unsolved murders?
The figures which are contained in the statement show that out of a total of 46 murders since 1954, only six have remained unsolved.
Only six?
Six have remained unsolved out of 46.
Does that include the murder of the lady at North Strand?
No. Those figures are only up to 30th September, 1963.
I do not think the word "only" is a suitable word to use there. Can the Minister give us any reassurance?
When I used the word "only", I had in mind that these figures compare more than favourably with those in any other country in western Europe to whose figures we have access.
I do not think that is a parallel.
Now that the Deputy has mentioned the recent case in Dublin, I just want to say that the Garda Síochána authorities are sparing no effort to ensure that the persons concerned are brought to justice.
Is the Minister aware that there appears to be disquiet among the rank and file of the Garda over what they consider to be the bungling by the people at the top in regard to this attack and murder and is he aware that they feel that the handling of those cases at top level is impeding rather than helping the arrest of culprits?
I must rebut that statement emphatically and I hope it will not give rise to any anxiety amongst the general public. Immediately this crime came to the notice of the Garda Síochána every resource at their disposal was brought to bear in an effort to apprehend these culprits and, far from there being any bungling, I am satisfied from the reports I have that an all-out and intensive effort along the most modern police lines was immediately brought to bear on the crime. I am also aware that the officers we have who specialise in the solution of this particular type of crime are as well trained and as efficient as they are in any police force in Europe.
Can the Minister say if, in fact, the people who really control the police organisation are not officers of the force but civilians and is he aware that the first time a road block was put up was a week after the murder and that people like myself have been stopped intermittently since then at night and asked who we are and where we are going—weeks after the murder was committed.
Both statements are equally nonsensical.
They are correct, even though they may appear nonsensical to the Minister.
Is the Minister aware that a good deal of crime and of the failure to trace criminals is caused by the fact that guards are not living in the area in which the crimes are committed? It is the centralisation of the barracks by the Minister's Department that is the cause of all this crime.
They are probably too busy warning Mrs. Costelloe not to go near the Taoiseach's house.
We have I know in this House a number of Deputies who think they would make excellent policemen. I, however, have every confidence in the men we have in the Force and believe that they are doing their job efficiently and well. I would like to say also that this is a matter that Deputies can debate fully and freely when my Estimate comes before the House in a few days time.
We will. We do not consider that the men are getting a chance to do their business well.