Double-talk won’t reduce crime rate

JUSTICE Minister Brian Lenihan stated at recent memorial Mass for the victims of violence that the country’s murder/crime rate was statistically low when compared with the European average.

The fact is that crime has increased dramatically in the last 10 years when the same Government was in charge.

No double-talk from PR consultants, or number-crunching, can hide the truth. While there is an average of a murder a week, sometimes it seems a body is found every day.

The minister may be in office for the next five years. How about having targets set, such as halving the murder rate, to determine whether he is ‘successful’ during his term. By the year 2012, if there are 33 murders or less, he may have something to trumpet.

However, if after 15 years of Fianna Fáil-led government, these targets are not achieved, regardless of the office-holder, then this extremely well-paid Government should be shown the door.

Conor O’Sullivan

Coolroe Heights

Ballincollig

Co Cork