Muintir na Tíre celebrates 40 years since founding of community alerts

Current Munitir na Tíre regional community alert organiser Diarmuid Cronin said in the mid-1980s criminals started targeted vulnerable elderly people in isolated rural areas because they knew a lot of gardaí had been posted to the Border and there was a skeleton force left behind. Picture: Denis Minihane

A commemoration is being planned to mark the 40th anniversary of the founding of Muintir na Tíre’s nationwide community alert scheme which was prompted by the brutal murders of elderly people in East Cork.

In 1985, three masked men forced their way into a house at Ballycureen, Glounthaune, occupied by retired farmer brothers, John, 77, and James Willis, 75.