Children forcibly put in care to curb gang crime

CHILDREN who are out of control are being forcibly taken into care in an attempt to curb gang crime in Limerick.

The head of Limerick’s regeneration scheme said as far as he was aware there are more children in care from Limerick than in any other part of the country — but it had not solved the problem.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Marian Finucane Sunday show, John Fitzgerald said while heavy duty and high visibility policing was needed, it was not the only solution.

He said it was essential the community work for itself, and above all, social regeneration was the most important issue.

“Some people believe nothing can be done to save the communities. I do not believe it for a minute,” he said. “My experience is that those with vested interest will become more engaged and the trouble will diminish as time goes on.”

Mr Fitzgerald said he recommended additional policing, “and it has improved and has stabilised things to a degree”.

He said the problems would not be sorted out in the short term — and would span generations — but there was great hope as the plan had been prepared by the people.

“This is not about knocking down and rebuilding houses — it is about social change and a community plan,” he said.

“If you look at Moyross community centre, it is a great example of a community working for itself and this can be replicated in other parts of the city.”

Mr Fitzgerald said it was a general policy for local authorities to temporarily rehouse people, and but it could not tell people where to live: “It is a free society — people can choose to stay and they are entitled to that.”

Limerick Labour councillor Gerry McLoughlin said tougher law enforcement measures were needed, and that the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) had to hit the criminals where it hurt — their pockets.

“These people are doing this for money, but there are only two CAB assessors in Limerick,” he said. He said he hoped CAB would take their wealth and “get rid of them”. He also called for additional community gardaí.

“They are a vital cog in the network, but they are isolated and facing druggies with guns,” he said.

“If there are not enough gardaí on the ground, social regeneration is not going to take place.”