Posted on 12/12/2005 8:39:58 PM PST by Murtyo
A Thurles man who suffered the wrath of unwanted night time visitors recently has taken to mounting a surveillance of his locality in a bid to catch the perpetrators of crime - the scene of which he feels certain they will return to. The man who does not wish to be identified is now patrolling the area at night time in the hope that the thieves return - they got away empty handed on the night, but may get more than they bargained for if they return. He awoke to find two thieves climbing through the window of his house and having disturbed them, they fled in the direction of a well known trouble spot in the town. The Gardai were immediately summoned but it took almost 45 minutes for them to arrive at the scene with only one patrol car being on duty on the night. The man was informed that there was very little the Gardai could do for him on the night. Finger prints were taken four days later. "I feel that we, the victims of crime, are being completely overlooked. It's a horrible thing to have your home invaded and yet we are being told that nothing can be done. I don't blame the Gardai - they are very stretched, but I don't think it's good enough that just because a crime is regarded as petty by the courts that it does not have a big impact on the victims. It's not petty from the point of view of the victims, but neither should we just accept that the Gardai can do nothing. We can do a certain amount and I think, considering the amount of burglaries and robberies in Thurles which continues without being checked, we should stand up and be counted," our source said. This man is taking a stand by patrolling his neighbourhood each night. He goes to his van and observes the comings and goings of individuals and groups - it's amazing what he sees happening. And, he is encouraging more people to do the same. If the Gardai cannot get around to doing the job, the general public will have to stand up and be counted. Otherwise the Cathedral Town will descend into anarchy. "How many times do we hear about burglaries in the town? I would say very little, because they are not regarded as being serious crime. Well they are serious to the victims and there is no greater slap in the face to victims than to be told that there is nothing that can be done. When the criminals are caught they are just laughing at the courts and the Gardai. They get a slap on the wrist and are told to be good citizens from now on. Fat chance of that - they are back plying their trade again hours are the courts finish," he said. While our source is obviously angry with the lack of support and response from authorities, he is also prepared to do some of the hard grind himself. And he is encouraging more and more people to get involved. "If we could get groups of people to keep watch in various locations, I think it would act as a real deterrent. I know you will say we shouldn't have to do this, but if we want to protect our homes and property, and if we want to see justice being done to these criminals we have to do something. I am not suggesting that we take them on or anything like that. We simply observe and call the Gardai immediately we see something suspicious. Our job is to help the Gardai, not replace them," he said. Members of Thurles Town Council have for many months now lamented the fact that law and order in the town seems to be spiralling out of control. Anti social behaviour, public disorder and drunken exchanges are regular occurrences. And, in fairness to the Gardai they have brought a huge volume of cases before Thurles District Court and Judge Tom O'Donnell. However, the feeling is that they have just gotten the tip and need help to break up the iceberg. "This is my way of dealing with what happened to me - I hope that I can meet with some success," he said.
Without any reference to what the crime rate was before and what it is now, it seems that the statement about the "spiraling" crime rate made by the council member (?) is irrelevant. Some people use bogus facts to make a claim about whatever. In fact has the crime rate increased appreciably in Ireland in the last ten years or so? I know my english-born wife complains about the accelerating rate of crime in England the news of which she gets from family members still living there. I hope it's not doing the same thing in Ireland.
He's doing the right thing.
Bump.
The crime rate in Ireland has dramatically increased in the past 15-20 years, Irish terrorist groups are now even supplying criminal gangs with bombs to use in gangland wars:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1539797/posts?page=1
Sorry to hear that with the great economy Ireland now enjoys comes more crime. But what's the crime rate on Craggy Island?
Darn it, we're planning a trip there in the next few years, and Thurles was one of the areas I wanted to visit. This article makes it sound like it's a mini-Detroit, which I know is an exaggeration, but still...it's Ireland...it's supposed to remain idyllic, like it is in my mind!
There was a whistle stolen once....
He awoke to find two thieves climbing through the window of his house and having disturbed them, they fled in the direction of a well known trouble spot in the town. The Gardai were immediately summoned but it took almost 45 minutes for them to arrive at the scene with only one patrol car being on duty on the night. The man was informed that there was very little the Gardai could do for him on the night. Finger prints were taken four days later.
"I feel that we, the victims of crime, are being completely overlooked. It's a horrible thing to have your home invaded and yet we are being told that nothing can be done. I don't blame the Gardai - they are very stretched, but I don't think it's good enough that just because a crime is regarded as petty by the courts that it does not have a big impact on the victims.
It's not petty from the point of view of the victims, but neither should we just accept that the Gardai can do nothing. We can do a certain amount and I think, considering the amount of burglaries and robberies in Thurles which continues without being checked, we should stand up and be counted," our source said.
This man is taking a stand by patrolling his neighbourhood each night. He goes to his van and observes the comings and goings of individuals and groups - it's amazing what he sees happening. And, he is encouraging more people to do the same. If the Gardai cannot get around to doing the job, the general public will have to stand up and be counted. Otherwise the Cathedral Town will descend into anarchy.
"How many times do we hear about burglaries in the town? I would say very little, because they are not regarded as being serious crime. Well they are serious to the victims and there is no greater slap in the face to victims than to be told that there is nothing that can be done. When the criminals are caught they are just laughing at the courts and the Gardai. They get a slap on the wrist and are told to be good citizens from now on. Fat chance of that - they are back plying their trade again hours are the courts finish," he said. While our source is obviously angry with the lack of support and response from authorities, he is also prepared to do some of the hard grind himself. And he is encouraging more and more people to get involved.
"If we could get groups of people to keep watch in various locations, I think it would act as a real deterrent. I know you will say we shouldn't have to do this, but if we want to protect our homes and property, and if we want to see justice being done to these criminals we have to do something.
I am not suggesting that we take them on or anything like that. We simply observe and call the Gardai immediately we see something suspicious. Our job is to help the Gardai, not replace them," he said. Members of Thurles Town Council have for many months now lamented the fact that law and order in the town seems to be spiralling out of control.
Anti social behaviour, public disorder and drunken exchanges are regular occurrences. And, in fairness to the Gardai they have brought a huge volume of cases before Thurles District Court and Judge Tom O'Donnell. However, the feeling is that they have just gotten the tip and need help to break up the iceberg. "This is my way of dealing with what happened to me - I hope that I can meet with some success," he said.
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