Michael Conaghan (Dublin South Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to address this matter. I would like to start by quoting a letter I sent to the former Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, on 29 August 2013.

Dear Minister

I wish to refer to gang slayings in the city. These are occurring with a regularity that now breeds acceptance. This is proof to the criminals who profit from these barbarous acts that it is their will alone that determines the limits to this behaviour.

Paralleling the criminals' acceptance at these new norms that they have established to serve their own ends is an acceptance by civil society that a frightening new layer of brutality has become an integral part of contemporary urban life.

Decent people are silently seething that their communities, which act as a backdrop to these shootings, are being redefined by criminal behaviour to an extent that civic pride and community wellbeing is being undermined.

The government now must demonstrate that the will of the 99 per cent can prevail. Slaying at the whim of these criminals must be stopped. Limerick offers a glowing example of how the tide can be successfully turned.

Deputy Dowds and I had a meeting with the former Minister, Deputy Shatter, after that but there was no discernible outcome.

The subject matter of this letter - gun crime - was brutally illustrated last Friday evening when a young child in Cherry Orchard was hit by gun fire. How ironic that any child should be in danger on his own doorstep. The very place where he should feel safest was attacked. A sanctuary was breached. Little Sean is still in hospital and, hopefully, he will soon be back home safe and well. Of course, we wish to send him our best wishes. Gun fire in the proximity of children is quite a frequent occurrence in the city. Recently when children were being dropped off at a crèche in Donaghmede gun fire erupted. This is a reckless practice which must be halted.

I wish to refer to a linked matter, namely, to a fear people have that their area can be somehow defined by the occurrence of brutalising incidents such as that which happened in Cherry Orchard last Friday evening. In that regard, I would like to say a few words about Cherry Orchard. Some 30 years ago, when people first moved into this new estate, there were only houses. The streets, footpaths and street lighting were unfinished. It did not have shops, a school, a church, facilities, a bus service and playgrounds. Some 30 years later, through the efforts of residents, the area has been transformed and, with the assistance of Dublin City Council, there are splendid parks and very good playgrounds. It has one of the most pioneering schools in the country, St. Ultan's, a youth orchestra which regularly performs at the National Concert Hall and one of the country's leading amateur soccer clubs, which is regularly visited by scouts from English league clubs, is based there.

All of this is the outcome of dedication, commitment and hard work by the people engaged in community building, the people of Cherry Orchard and the parish priest, Father O'Connor, over a 30 year period. Cherry Orchard needs the Minister's help. It needs more gardaí and more resources to counter some of the activities which have been referred to.

I would like the Minister to consider visiting Cherry Orchard to meet the people, which they would like, and to talk directly to them and discuss how serious outstanding issues can be tackled by them with her support.

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