Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for this opportunity to raise this matter which relates to problems facing Caher outside Abbeyfeale, County Limerick, on which Deputy Deenihan, other elected representatives and I met with local people last night. I had previously met with the people from the area and this was a follow-up meeting to it. What has been happening there for the past 12 months in particular is nothing short of blatant intimidation and involves threats, abuse and criminal damage against a rural community that has never known anything like this in its lifetime. An indication of how bad the situation has become there is that there have been 47 reported incidents in the area in the past 12 months, whereas in the previous year there were three. This has come about because a criminal family has moved into the area and has been living there for more than 14 months. During that period houses and cars have been burnt, windows have been smashed, and people have been verbally abused and threatened blatantly and openly. As a result, people are afraid to confront these people or to make statements to the Garda. There is also the knock-on effect of the suspicion that may or may not be true that this criminal family is associated with one of the criminal drug gangs in Limerick city. That fear is palpable among the residents in the area.

The local superintendent, who was also present last night, confirmed everything that we were told regarding the number of incidents reported. He confirmed the increase in the Garda presence in the area was such that gardaí had been taken from another area in order to try to deal with this issue.

Two members of this family who are of school-going age apparently have not attended school. One of them has been barred from his own house. There is no parental control or accountability and there is no indication that this is about to come about. As was evident from last night's meeting we need a multiagency approach to deal with the problem. I hope the Minister of State and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform will deal with the matter forthwith.

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