Mr. Richard Kennedy:

Undoubtedly there has been an increase in violence and the severity of the violence. There is no question about that, and that is why we are so worried. We are glad to have the opportunity to discuss it today. It is getting worse because the perpetrators are getting away scot free in the vast majority of cases. Not only are the individuals themselves scared and hurt - quite recently we have had a number of big incidents in north Dublin - but fear is generated in the community. A point about urban crime was made but, while sympathetic to all victims of crime, in an isolated place where a person has no neighbours for 5 km or 6 km such crimes have very serious outcomes. There is no doubt that some people have moved to their nearest town or moved into a nursing home because of that fear.