The attack some weeks ago on an elderly pensioner outside her home in Limerick, once again highlights the need for tougher sentences for those who commit such despicable crimes, and more particularly against older people.
Limerick TD Niall Collins introduced legislation in the Dáil earlier this year which would ‘ensure a minimum prison sentence of three years for people convicted of assault causing serious harm to older people and threatening to kill or cause serious harm to anyone aged over 65’.
But why the age limit? Yes, our elderly must be protected by all means, but anyone who is subjected to their homes being broken into runs the risk of being assaulted should they be unlucky enough to come across the perpetrators.
We need a far greater police presence in our communities. Those who thieve from Joe Public on a daily basis or those who are prepared to attack vulnerable people in their homes, are leading the gardai a merry dance.
We are too soft on crime in this country and are (generally) too lenient on those convicted.
