Fine Gael calls for joyriding crackdown

FINE GAEL has called for a major crackdown on joyriders, as Gardaí and other road users in Dublin and Waterford narrowly avoided serious injury during the latest incidents of high-speed joyriding at the weekend.

The party’s justice spokesperson John Deasy claimed tougher sentencing must be handed down to juveniles who stole cars, if the public were not to lose faith in the justice system.

His comments came after two Garda patrol cars were rammed by a stolen Honda Civic carrying four youths in Dublin in the early hours of yesterday morning. The vehicle had been reported stolen from the southside suburb of Dartry on Friday.

All four teenagers were arrested at the scene of the crash on Donore Avenue in the south inner city at around 4.15am.

One of the youths was brought to hospital with minor injuries, while the other three were detained for questioning by Gardaí from Kevin Street.

A Garda also had to receive hospital treatment for cuts to his hand caused by broken glass, although his injuries were described as non-serious.

All four youths were released from custody yesterday but are due to appear before the Children’s Court next month on charges of the unauthorised taking of a motor vehicle.

Meanwhile, a teenager appeared before a special sitting of Waterford District Court at the weekend after he was involved in a high-speed chase across the city on Friday night. The youth is reported to have driven a stolen van at speeds of up to 100mph on busy roads in the area.

Gardaí pursued the van around Waterford city with the driver refusing to stop or allow the patrol car to pass. The youth brought the van to a halt at a green area in front of housing estate at Ballybeg. He was ultimately cornered by several gardaí at Lacken Road, Kilbarry and was arrested and taken to a nearby Garda station.

Waterford District Court later remanded him in custody to appear again on Thursday on charges relating to the unauthorised taking of a vehicle.

Calls for a greater clampdown on joyriders has increased since the death of a Dublin taxi driver on January 11, when a stolen car smashed into his cab at a junction on the city’s northside. One of the young joyriding passengers hurt in the accident also died later from his injuries.

The two survivors of the crash are due before Cloverhill District Court this morning.

Yesterday, Waterford TD, John Deasy claimed many people no longer reported crimes like joyriding because of a diminished faith in the justice system. He also criticised the failure of the Government to give full effect to the Children’s Act 2001 which deals with willful neglect by parents.

“It is clear there is no real deterrent for repeat juvenile offenders who known the chances of being placed in a detention facility are slim,” said Mr Deasy. “They are acting like grown-up criminals and it’s time to start treating them as grown-ups.”

While supporting the Juvenile Liaison Scheme, the Fine Gael TD said it was vital repeat juvenile offenders are given custodial sentences. “The whole area of joyriding and juvenile crime is indicative of how ineffective our justice system has become,” he added.