Brady Fighting Crime - A New Approach

Statement by Peter Brady, Fine Gael Local Election Candidate, Lucan/Palmerstown/Ronanstown.

“The Government’s policies on fighting crime are a complete failure” says Peter Brady, Fine Gael Local Election Candidate in Lucan/Palmerstown/Ronanstown. “A new approach is needed”.

Peter Brady has been a Peace Commissioner in Lucan for 20 years. He knows what’s happening on the ground in this area; how every person living here is affected, directly or indirectly, by crime.

A real crime-fighting programme would include;

• More Gardai on the beat in Lucan, Palmerstown and Ronanstown. 2000 extra Gardai were promised by Fianna Fail and the PD’s in the last election. In fact, as the number of Gardai retiring from the force approaches the number being recruited each year, the total number of Gardai will soon begin to fall.

• Mandatory longer sentences for repeat offenders. Minimum prison sentences should be established by law which must be served by criminals convicted of a second serious offence. This is an approach which has worked well in Britain and the US, where there are Governments with real crime-fighting policies.

• End delays in the legal system. Some trials don’t take place until two years after the crime. Typically, the case is adjourned repeatedly. The prosecution is expected to have its witnesses in court on each occasion in case the trial starts. Eventually, someone gets tired of turning up again and again for no purpose, the case is thrown out because of the absence of a key witness and the criminals win again. The main reason for these delays is the lack of sufficient judges or court-rooms or both. A Government which was serious about crime-fighting would ensure this didn’t happen.

• Establish a DNA database. Anyone who watches CSI or Forensic Detectives will be aware of the role such a database can play in trapping repeat offenders. DNA left at the crime scene can be compared with DNA profiles on the database. Most people will probably be astonished to learn that we still don’t have a DNA database in Ireland. The Government has been debating and agonising and making promises about setting one up for the last five years. The latest stage in the prevarication process is the publication of a Consultation Paper by the Law Reform Commission.

• Legal representation for victims in criminal trials (especially trials of sexual offences) and more consistency in sentencing policy.

Research published recently shows that 1 in 5 crimes are not reported. This figure rises to 1 in 3 when the victim is under 25. These figures show how little reliance can be placed on the Government’s claims that the crime rate is falling.

“What this country needs is a real Witness Protection Programme” concluded Peter Brady.

“Why should the victims be afraid, not the criminals?”

30th April 2004