Commenting following the fatal stabbing which took place on Dublin’s O’Connell Street in the early hours of yesterday morning, Fianna Fáil Justice Spokesperson, Jim O’Callaghan TD said, “This is only the latest knife crime to take place on our streets and which has left a person dead. It hasn’t even been four weeks since a teenager was fatally stabbed in South Dublin. On the very same evening elsewhere in the city a 15-year-old was left hospitalised following a stabbing.
“In Cork, two separate crimes involving knives led to serious wounds and injuries. But these are just the incidents that have been publicised and are therefore publicly known.
“Following repeated questions to the Minister, the CSO and the HSE, I was eventually informed that the number of knives seized by Gardaí nationwide has increased by 66% since 2016. Despite that, there is no public scrutiny of the level of criminal activity here which involves the use of knives.
“There are genuine fears that a sub culture is emerging among sections of our society, where carrying knives is acceptable.
“If we are to try to contain knife attacks and prevent them happening on busy streets, the Department of Justice needs to immediately act by introducing appropriate measures. In the first instance, stricter sanctions need to be placed on those who carry or use knives.
“Fianna Fáil will be introducing legislation in the coming weeks aimed at increasing penalties for knife crime. The Government must support this measure so that there is an increase in the penalty for those carrying knives.”
