Lethal violence - Time to reconsider our response

THERE was a time not so very long ago when a few steadfast voices were derided for suggesting that terrorism posed a real threat to the stability of this country.

Though that nightmare never came to pass because it was not allowed to, there was a decade — between the burning of the British Embassy in Dublin in 1972 and the hunger strikes in 1981 — that that prospect had an alarming ring of possibility about it.

Though we are not anywhere near the same degree of jeopardy we are on the same journey, but now criminals represent the threat rather than the “politicals”.

The news that a member of the defence forces is being investigated for possible links — voluntary or otherwise — to criminals over the handling of illegally held firearms, as well as a report that several other members of the defence forces have been approached by criminals with a view to either getting weapons or being trained in their use, is alarming.

It is even more alarming when you remember Tuesday’s events in Limerick when six houses were raked with automatic gunfire. It is amazing that no one was killed or at least badly injured, and it is doubtful that the gunman had any real understanding of such a weapon’s lethal capability.

Consider also the discovery of pipe bombs near the homes of suspected criminal figures in Dublin. These are indiscriminate weapons and are as likely to kill or maim a passerby as they are to kill their target.

Remember too that within the last two weeks we saw how teenagers, fuelled by drink and drugs on St Patrick’s Day, stopped cars in broad daylight on a busy road in Tallaght, dragged out the drivers and set the cars on fire. It took the Garda riot squad to bring this situation under control, though they had to wait for some hours to pass before they could even consider confronting the mob.

This, though not by any means comprehensive, is a despairing litany and requires a response that will protect society and challenge the culture that endorses such behaviour.

The initial objective has to be the establishment of a safe and fear-free environment for the vast majority of people who have nothing to do with crime or violence. That will best be done by an effective police presence. That presence should be a combination of community police and units with the capability to confront the gangs and their automatic weaponry.

For too long we have expected our police to face into all sorts of situations with little more than our best wishes and a loud voice. There is a natural reluctance to end a long and honourable tradition of an unarmed police force, but changing circumstances require a changed response. Though a substantial proportion of the gardaí are already armed, it would send a significant message to the criminals and signal renewed support for the gardaí who operate in a lethal environment.

Undoubtedly the usual, Pavlovian hand-wringers will object but we might be better off if we listened to the voices from communities destroyed by antisocial behaviour and terrified by criminals.

We should especially listen to the voices of older people imprisoned in their homes by antisocial behaviour and crime gangs. Unless we do, we deserve to share their fate.