Crime wave reaches new low as passer-by is shot in Tallaght incident

12 October 2005

by Cllr Joe Costello

Labour Party Spokesperson on Justice, Deputy Joe Costello, has said the shooting of a passer-by who found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time during an incident in Tallaght last night emphasises the need for additional measures, in particular more Gardai on the streets, to combat Ireland's crime wave.

Deputy Costello commented, "It is truly shocking that a man who was out simply for an evening walk around a residential neighbourhood in South West Dublin can get caught up in an incident that sees three different men shot.

"What type of society do we inhabit whereby a night-time stroll becomes fraught with the danger of being shot?

"In this instance, the 50 year-old passer-by appears to have happened upon two men making their getaway from the initial shooting of a man in the doorway of his own home. The casual resort to taking a pop at anyone who stumbles upon criminals in the midst of their work demonstrates how ruthless and deadly these gangs have become.

"Miraculously, this man survived the shooting incident, but soon enough a totally innocent member of the public will be fatally injured.

"The number of murders and shootings in recent months make a nonsense of claims by the Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, that serious crime is under control. These incidents demonstrate the need for more Gardai, more patrols, and a stronger crackdown on gangs and their illegal weapons.

"We need a new strategy to deliver safe streets and particularly to put the gun gangs out of business. A key element in this must be the delivery of the additional 2,000 Gardai promised by the government prior to the 2002 general election."