Deputy Carol Nolan has expressed her support for ongoing protests in Roscrea by local women, while Justice Minister Helen McEntee has dismissed their concerns. McEntee argued against the suggestion that migrant communities are automatically associated with criminal activity, stating that there is no evidence to support such claims. However, recent recorded crimes in the town contradict McEntee's statements. The protests in Roscrea have been taking place for six weeks, with the number of people housed in the former hotel steadily increasing. Deputy Nolan stated that women in the town feel subjected to prolonged psychological intimidation due to government policies regarding the accommodation of international protection seekers. She criticized the lack of transparency in sharing information with communities and local authorities about the influx of people into their towns and villages. Nolan warned that the public will express their frustration at the ballot box [208a392c].
In a separate development, Pauline Duddy, a Derry mum, is set to meet Justice Minister Naomi Long on June 25 to discuss tougher sentencing for drug dealers. Duddy's 21-year-old daughter Jasmin died in February last year after taking pregabalin and other substances. Duddy is calling for an 'aggravating factor' to be applied to those who knowingly supply drugs to vulnerable individuals. In April, Long promised to consider the suggestion. Duddy has been leading the 'stop the street drugs' campaign, organizing protests, an online petition, and lobbying politicians. She believes that the current sentencing is inadequate and wants longer sentences to act as a deterrent for drug dealers [5e5c1dd0].
People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett has claimed that families of the victims of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings in 1974 were subject to garda surveillance in the early 90s. Boyd Barrett raised the issue in the Dáil during oral questions to Justice Minister Helen McEntee. He stated that families were put under surveillance for years, starting when they put up a memorial in the Garden of Remembrance in Dublin in 1991. Boyd Barrett demanded to know who ordered the surveillance and where the files related to it are. McEntee responded that the case is still open and ongoing, and therefore the files cannot be released. She assured that the government will continue to work with the families to find answers. Boyd Barrett criticized the lack of transparency and called for accountability. The Dublin and Monaghan bombings, which killed 35 people, have never resulted in any convictions [11fbd27c].
Meanwhile, the Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, confirmed that at the end of April 2024, there were 1,275 Garda members assigned to Cork. This is a decrease from the previous year when there were 1,313 Garda members. The Cork city division saw a larger decrease in numbers, from 705 to 670. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan expressed concern about the drop in Garda numbers and the impact it is having on policing in Cork. The Minister stated that she wants to see more Gardaí in Cork and across the country, and expects the numbers to increase as new members are assigned. The new policing model in Cork county covers a large area, including parts of County Kerry, and adequate policing is important for the diverse rural and urban areas, as well as the coastal area known for drug trafficking [f7afb78d].
In Manorhamilton, between 250-300 people attended the Justice for Natasha event. Aisling Kerrigan from the Domestic Violence Advocacy Service (DVAS) and Deputy Marian Harkin spoke about justice and women's rights. The event was held in response to the public outrage over the suspended sentence for Natasha O'Brien's attacker, Cathal Crotty. The organisers praised Natasha's bravery and stated that it will benefit the entire country [9784fc9b].
Gardaí are investigating a threatening letter sent to the family home of soldier Cathal Crotty in Co Clare. The 22-year-old recently received a fully suspended three-year sentence over an unprovoked assault on Natasha O’Brien (24) in Limerick city on May 29th, 2022. Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Micheál Martin has appointed a senior counsel to conduct a “comprehensive and independent” examination of cases where Defence Forces personnel have convictions or are before the courts. The Director of Public Prosecutions has lodged an appeal against the sentence handed down by Judge Tom O’Donnell and Ms O’Brien has voiced disgust at the nature of the penalty imposed on her attacker and comments made during sentencing. Gardaí are investigating the anonymous threatening letter, with a Dublin postmark, sent to Crotty’s family residence in Ardnacrusha last Wednesday. A spokesman said the force was “aware of correspondence received at a domestic residence in Co Clare in July 2024” and that “enquiries are ongoing” [2cf04361].