Only victims’ families serve a life sentence

THERE should be no surprise at the defiance of the criminal justice system by criminal gangs, now par for the course throughout the country, not just in Limerick and Dublin, although Limerick is now the most extreme example.

These elements operate under the law of the jungle, where only the strongest survive. Attempts at reform and rehabilitation are wasted on them and we are now reaping the whirlwind of the kid-glove, do-gooder groups that have landed us in this mess.

The gardaí need no extra powers and would be foolish to revert to any strong arm policy for short-term gain. The solution lies in the sentencing policy, which is a shambles and an affront to innocent victims of crime.