Senator witnessed attack on taxi driver

SINN Féin Senator Rose Conway-Walsh says she is appalled and angered by the levels of crime in regional towns and villages.

She herself witnessed an attack on a taxi driver in Mayo last week.

Asking for a full debate in the Seanad with Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan on the issue of crime, she explained: “Again, this week we hear of an elderly women duped by a rogue trader into handing over money for tools she had no need whatsoever for.

“As someone who lives in rural Ireland, I am appalled and angered by the rising levels of crime.

“Every week, I listen to people telling me their stories of being robbed and assaulted. This ranges from people like this woman being robbed in their own homes to businesses being robbed, sometimes by the same individuals, families or gangs over and over again.

“These crimes are being carried out often during the day by criminals who are intimidating and sticking their two fingers up at shop owners and victims.

“Only last week, in Castlebar, outside a funeral home at 5 o’clock in the evening, I myself witnessed a taxi driver trying to escape injury or worse while his attacker, accompanied by a man and a woman, kicked and smashed his vehicle while trying to punch and drag the driver from the car.”

She continued: “So, I have some basic questions. Where are the gardaí we need on the streets? Are there enough guards to cover the areas they have to serve? Do they have enough resources to prevent and deal with such crimes?

“Above all, why do we have a judicial system that enables and facilitates these crimes by letting off repeat criminals time and time again?

“They leave the courts laughing and sneering at the guards and the victims knowing they are free to attack their victims over and over again.

“We need a full and frank debate and we need a coordinated action plan to tackle these crimes, otherwise, we have a free for all.”