Meeting hears of rising crime rates

OVER 500 people attended a public meeting called by Independent TD Shane Ross and Cllr Kevin Daly (Ind) to discuss rising crime rates in the Stepaside area. 

The meeting was held in De La Salle Palmerston FC Kilternan and was attended by hundreds of local residents concerned that burglaries  have soared since the closure of Stepaside Garda Station in 2013.

Speakers on the night included John Tully, founding member of the high profile Save Our Community,  the Tipperary based movement that organised a huge meeting on crime in Thurles last month; security and crime journalist, Jim Cusack and members of the local community who have been directly affected by the recent increase in crime

According to CSO figures, at the end of June 2015,  the first half year figures for burglaries in the Dundrum area (which includes Stepaside) had risen by 68 per cent over the first six months in 2014. 

“I was informed by a top-ranking Garda in the area, that at the end of October 2015, for the first 10 months of the year, burglaries in the Dundrum area stood at a total of 750,” Deputy Ross said. “This is 170 more (28 per cent higher)  than those reported for the entire year in 2014.

“The dark months of November and December are historically the worst months of the year for burglaries.

“So the final figure will probably be in the region of  nearly 1,000. This would be an increase in the calendar year 2015 of around 70 per cent above last year’s full year burglary figures.”

According to Deputy Ross, Dundrum is now competing for being the worst burglary black spot in the country.

According to CSO figures, in  2013 it ranked thirteenth in the highest burglary figures. In 2014 it was third and in the first six months of this year it was the second  worst in the country.

Deputy Ross added: “The massive attendance at our meeting on Monday is evidence of the depth of feeling and fear of the residents of the Stepside area.

“We will now be joining forces with other local groups to fight for the reopening of Garda stations around the country as this is a national issue.”