Water cannon needed to tackle ‘rampaging youths’

FOLLOWING the jailing of a Limerick man yesterday after a mob attacked the emergency services on a late night call, the Limerick State Solicitor Michael Murray called for the deployment of water cannon in the city to tackle street violence.

At Limerick District Court, Darragh Quinlivan, aged 23, of Crecora Avenue, Ballinacurra Weston, was jailed for three months when he pleaded guilty to smashing the windscreen of a fire tender that had been called to a fire at Ballinacurra Weston on June 5 last.

Inspector Seamus Gallagher said the window of the fire tender was smashed with a rock thrown by the accused, who was standing among a crowd of others on the street at around 3.30am. More than €400 worth of damage was caused to the fire tender.

Judge Tom O’Donnell, imposing the jail sentence, remarked: “This was an appalling performance.”

Limerick State Solicitor Michael Murray yesterday called for the deployment of water cannon in Limerick to disperse gangs gathering and attacking gardaí or the emergency services late at night.

Mr Murray said: “In recent times we have had petrol bomb attacks on the gardaí in Limerick. Gangs of youths are displaying their antipathy to the gardaí in a very violent fashion.

“This is a worrying new trend, and it does pose health and safety issues for the gardaí.

“One has to wonder if, in the light of emerging new threats, and the dangers they are facing, if they are adequately equipped. There should be apparatuses such as water cannons to disperse gangs of youths on the rampage.”

Mr Murray said he is very concerned for the safety of gardaí in Limerick in light of recent shootings and bomb attacks.

He said: “In one attack, a man shot at uniformed gardaí in a patrol car. He has been dealt with by the courts. The country is now awash with fire arms and that boundary is now being crossed, with regard to violent attacks on gardaí — up to now sacrosanct. This is a very worrying trend.”