Dozens of Longford businesses, politicians and sports clubs have signed an open letter to Justice Minister Helen McEntee and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris urging them to deal with the recent rise in violent crime.
The letter was posted on the Facebook page of Seamus Butler, who is a councillor for the Longford Municipal Area on Longford County Council.
“Following a resurgence of criminally violent acts in Longford in the last three months, it is long overdue for this sort of crime, which is hugely contributing to Longford’s reputational damage, to be halted,” the letter reads.
“The general public are appalled at these crimes, often committed in public spaces and heralded on social media as some perverted badge of honour. There is no doubt that due to these public crimes, many people are in fear and are avoiding Longford to the detriment of local economic activity.”
The letter goes on to say that while Gardaí had arrested and charged most of these “heinous” crimes’ perpetrators, “time and again we are seeing suspended sentences being doled out for violent crimes in Longford.”
“Subsequently,” the letter continues, “when further crimes are committed by these criminals, rarely is the suspended sentence added to any sentence passed down.
“A major factor in these crimes being committed, is that these thugs know full well they will not get the sentence their crimes deserve. This has to stop. It is time to put these violent thieves, drug dealers and extortionists away for maximum sentences.”
The letter continued: “The use of the term ‘feud’ should also cease. This extremely violent criminal activity has no place in a civilised society and Longford deserves better.”
The letter described Longford’s “small violent criminal class” as a “continuing open wound on the community as a whole” and said that the county was no longer regarded as a safe place.
“Extra Garda resources are required now,” the post read.
“The resources are currently not available to allow the deployment of a daily foot patrol in Longford Town. Whereas this is not a panacea to Longford’s crime problems, the physical presence will act as a deterrent to on-street violence and anti-social behaviour.
“Maybe more importantly, it will be a psychological signal to the public that Longford Town is a safe place. We call on the Garda Commissioner to make those resources available as a matter of urgency.”
Gript asked Seamus Butler, who drafted the letter, if he would like to see other counties put similar pressure on the authorities to deal with these crimes across the country.
He replied that while he couldn’t speak for other counties, he knew these problems could not longer go on, and that Longford had been dealing with such issues since 2019.
“The Gardaí are doing their jobs, but a lot of it is the judiciary,” he said.
“They’re soft in certain ways.”
Asked if he believed the letter would make a positive changer, Butler said it would, adding: “To get all of their county councillors in Longford to put their name to one document is an achievement in and of itself.”
The letter lists many signatories which are displayed below:
Politicians:
Cllr Peggy Nolan
Cathaoirleach Longford County Council
Joe Flaherty TD
Senator Micheal Carrigy
Uruemu Adejinmi
Paraic Brady
John Browne
Seamus Butler
Mick Cahill
Mark Casey
Colin Dalton
Gerard Farrell
Gerry Hagan
Turlough McGovern
Martin Monaghan
Colm Murray
Gary Murtagh
Pat O’Toole
P J Reilly
Paul Ross
Gerry Warnock
Sports clubs and business organisations:
Longford Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Co Longford IFA
Ballymahon Traders Association
Edgeworthstown Traders Association
Lanesboro Town Team
County Longford Vintners
Longford GAA
Longford Rugby Club
Longford Town FC
Co Longford Golf Club
Longford Tennis Club
Co Longford Scuba Divers
Co Longford Triathlon Club
Longford Community Resources CLG
Longford Traveller Healthcare Project
Midland Polish Community
Longford African Network
Attic Youth Club
Hype Fest
Backstage Theatre
Engage
Cruthu Arts Festival
Longford Ploughing Association
Longford Vintage Club
Longford Men’s Shed
Killoe Men’s Shed
Drumlish/Ballinamuck Men’s Shed