Violent crime - Climate of fear ignored in statistics

BARELY four months after Justice Minister Michael McDowell’s claim that Ireland was among the safest of countries, the chilling events of recent days show that life has become cheap on the streets of our cities and towns.

There could hardly be a more graphic illustration of the mindless violence which is now widespread than the appalling incident in Naas where a woman was fatally stabbed as she queued for a taxi on the Kildare town’s Main Street.

The motive for her killing by a 49-year-old man early yesterday morning has baffled gardaí investigating this senseless crime.