FF concerned about increase in rural robberies
Published on: 27 March 2014
Fianna Fáil Senator Ned O’Sullivan has expressed concern about a spate of burglaries across Kerry over the past number of weeks.
According to reports, the latest robbery happened in the Kenmare area when three homes were burgled, with cash and property stolen.
“These burglaries are a great cause for concern and I would urge homeowners to be extra vigilant, especially when their homes are unattended. It appears that the thieves are targeting isolated properties following incidents in Kilgarvan, Lauragh and Waterville over recent weeks. I would urge people to be extra careful when locking up their homes, especially when they are at Mass, as this seems to be when the burglaries are taking place”, commented Senator O’Sullivan
“This spate of burglaries has left communities on edge and older people fearing for their safety. People in rural areas feel even more isolated following the closure of 9 garda stations across the county. Despite our local gardaí going above and beyond the call of duty in the face of these cuts, the reality is that this problem remains very real. This wave of petty crime is the result of these closures and further emphasises the need for garda resources in Kerry to be re-instated.
“These break-ins are further proof that Minister Alan Shatter’s crusade to close down local garda stations was extremely short-sighted and ill-advised. It has undermined a vital local service, while creating a climate of fear in rural communities, and has resulted is little or no savings for the taxpayer. Local garda stations provide a sense of security for older people and people living in isolated areas, and they act as a deterrent to criminals.
“The Minister promised communities losing a station that they’d be replaced with a community alert system as well as garda clinics. However, it’s still unclear how many of these are up and running. Communities need to be reassured that the Minister is doing everything he can to ensure their areas are safe. Unfortunately recent events indicate that’s simply not the case”.