An Open letter to the Minister for Justice Helen McEntee and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris from the people of Longford has been published this evening concerning recent violence in the county town.
The letter is signed by the Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council Peggy Nolan, Deputy Joe Flaherty and Senator Micheal Carrigy as well as all of the council members.
It’s also signed by 26 different community groups and associations across the county, including Longford Chamber of Commerce, Ballymahon Traders Association, Longford IFA and Midland Polish Community.
Detailing concerns about the latest surge in criminally violent acts over the last three months the letter calls on the Justice Minister to request the Presidents of the various courts to review the granting of bail for repeat offenders and the handing down of suspended sentences where an ongoing pattern of violent crimes have been perpetrated.
It is also calling on the garda commissioner Drew Harris to deploy extra garda resources for Longford so that a daily foot patrol could be put in place in Longford town.
It says that while such a foot patrol would not be a panacea to Lonford's crime problems , the physical presence would act as a deterrent to on-street violence, and would be a pyshcological signal to the public that Longford town is a safe place.
See full letter below;
An Open Letter to the Minister of Justice Helen McEntee and Garda
Commissioner Drew from the People of Longford.
Following a resurgence of criminally violent acts in Longford in the last three months,
it is long overdue for this sort of crime, which is hugely contributing to Longford’s
reputational damage, to be halted. The general public are appalled at these crimes,
often committed in public spaces and heralded on social media as some perverted
badge of honour. There is no doubt that due to these public crimes, many people are
in fear and are avoiding Longford to the detriment of local economic activity. The
Gardai have arrested and charged most of the perpetrators of these heinous crimes
but there are major concerns as to how they will be treated by the Judicial system.
Time and again we are seeing suspended sentences being doled out for violent
crimes in Longford. Subsequently, when further crimes are committed by these
criminals, rarely is the suspended sentence added to any sentence passed down. A
major factor in these crimes being committed, is that these thugs know full well they
will not get the sentence their crimes deserve. This has to stop. It is time to put these
violent thieves, drug dealers and extortionists away for maximum sentences. The
use of the term ‘feud’ should also cease. This extremely violent criminal activity has
no place in a civilised society and Longford deserves better. While we respect the
independence of the Judiciary, we call for the Minister of Justice to request the
Presidents of the various Courts to review the granting of bail for repeat offenders
and the handing down of suspended sentences where an ongoing pattern of violent
crimes have been perpetrated. It is obvious that Longford has a small violent criminal
class that is a continuing open wound on the community as a whole.
County Longford has been selected as one of three national pilots for the Local
Community Safety Partnerships which are being mooted as a replacement for the
existing Joint Policing Committees. It is also obvious that currently Longford is not
perceived as being a safe place. To ensure the success of this Pilot, that has been
running from 2021, extra Garda resources are required now. The resources are
currently not available to allow the deployment of a daily foot patrol in Longford
Town. Whereas this is not a panacea to Longford’s crime problems, the physical
presence will act as a deterrent to on-street violence and anti-social behaviour.
Maybe more importantly, it will be a psychological signal to the public that Longford
Town is a safe place. We call on the Garda Commissioner to make those resources
available as a matter of urgency.
Signed
Cllr Peggy Nolan, Cathaoirleach Longford County Council
Joe Flaherty TD, Senator Micheal Carrigy
Councillors: Uruemu Adejinmi, Paraic Brady, John Browne, Seamus Butler, Mick Cahill,
Mark Casey, Colin Dalton, Gerard Farrell, Gerry Hagan, Turlough McGovern, Martin
Monaghan, Colm Murray, Gary Murtagh, Pat O’Toole, P J Reilly, Paul Ross and Gerry
Warnock.
Longford Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Co Longford IFA
Ballymahon Traders Association
Edgeworthstown Traders Association
Lanesboro Town Team
County Longford Vintners
Longford GAA
Longford Rugby Club
Co Longford Golf Club
Longford Tennis Club
Co Longford Scuba Divers
Co Longford Triathlon Club
Longford Community Resources CLG
Longford Traveller Healthcare Project
Midland Polish Community
Longford African Network
Attic Youth Club
Hype Fest
Backstage Theatre
Engage
Cruthu Arts Festival
Longford Ploughing Association
Longford Vintage Club
Longford Men’s Shed
Killoe Men’s Shed
Drumlish/Ballinamuck Men’s Shed
