Tackle gangs now, says O'Donnell

Fine Gael Limerick TD, Kieran O'Donnell, has called on Justice Minister, Brian Lenihan, to bring forward extra measures to tackle gangland crime in Limerick and across the country.

Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy O'Donnell said that he wanted to pay tribute to the tremendous work being done by An Garda Síochána in Limerick in dealing with gangland crime in very difficult circumstances.

"Limerick is a fantastic city, but additional resources must be provided by the Government, along with new legislative measures to ensure that gangland crime is tackled. The taking of life is unjustifiable and I wish to express my sympathies to the families of Mark Moloney and James Cronin," Deputy O'Donnell said.

The Limerick East opposition TD said that the State had a duty to ensure that innocent people living in Limerick are safe and that the image of the city is not diminished.

"The mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years for illegal possession of firearms should be imposed in majority of cases by Judges", Deputy O'Donnell said.

"The 30 remaining Gardaí recommended by the John Fitzgerald report must be provided as a matter of urgency. And a branch of the Criminal Assets Bureau must be established in Limerick to tackle the criminals head on in terms of monies earned from drug dealing," he added.

Deputy O'Donnell said that a recent study on the nations Children's Courts, published in April 2007, found that out of a sample of 400 children before the children courts in 2004, 86% of them were not attending school, with many assessed as having a learning or behavioural difficulty and 30% committed alcohol related crimes.

"This is an issue that must be addressed as a matter of urgency," Deputy O'Donnell said.

Call to tarmac recycling area

Councillor Cathal Crowe is calling on Clare County Council to tarmac the area in front of recycling facilities at Meelick Church on the Limerick border "as a matter of urgency".

"After my election to Clare County Council in 2004, I asked that recycling facilities be put in place for the community of Meelick. Finding a site for the recycling facility proved difficult until the Nix family and the local clergy generously agreed that it could be set up adjacent to the church," he said.

"The area surrounding the Meelick bottle banks is used as a parking area by parishioners attending Saturday night and Sunday morning masses. Several large water-filled potholes surround the bottle banks and it is now impossible for somebody to park their car there without getting wet."