Copper-Flynn hits Government on crime crisis
7 August 1996
Beverly Cooper-Flynn, the newly selected Fianna Fail candidate to contest the next General Election, has severely criticised the Rainbow Government for its 'inaction' on the serious crime situation.
Cooper-Flynn, speaking on The Criminal Justice Bill 1996, stated: "This Government has no anti-crime strategy.
"This bill is a cobbled together panic measure from a Minister under serious pressure from a public concerned with the worsening crime situation.
"There has been a dramatic upsurge in the number of violent crimes over the past twelve months and a concerned public want Government action to deal with the situation.
"Sadly this half-hearted effort has let us down." Cooper-Flynn said it was important to remember that this was a Government which voted:
- Against a constitutional referendum on bail.
- Against making bailsmen financially responsible for the good conduct of accused persons.
- Against curfew orders.
- Against imposing ten year minimum sentences on drug dealers found in possession of drugs with a street value of £10,000 or more.
Cooper-Flynn said it was hard to take the Government seriously in dealing with crime when they cancelled the prisoners programme.
She hit out at Justice Minister Nora Owens, T.D., as 'the Minister who loves making headlines with promises of extra prison places and spells out the deferred commencement date in the footnotes.' "You can't blame the public for being disillusioned when a young man convicted of rape can escape from detention two days later while on a visit to the cinema.
"Once again we get an all too predictable response from the Minister. She has called for a full report.
"Forget the report, Minister, and give us some action."
Connaught Telegraph - News - August 1996
Connaught Telegraph - Sport - August 1996
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