The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
PROPOSALS for a ‘knife amnesty’ in Ennis have been supported by members of Ennis Town Council this week. The suggestion is to be brought to the next meeting of the Joint Policing Committee.
Councillor Paul O’Shea, who is also chairman of the Ennis JPC, called on the local authority to request the Minister for Justice to facilitate the amnesty, where secure bins would be placed in Ennis Garda Station to encourage people to hand over weapons.
He also urged that the minister recommend leaving bins in churches, supermarkets, schools and youth clubs. According to Councillor O’Shea, “The amnesty should include offensive weapons such as flick knives, butterfly knives, swords, machetes and so on. The offending blades may be wrapped in card or paper, partly to prove they are part of the amnesty and partly to prevent injury at the site of the delivery.”
He added, “There have been caches of weapons discovered by gardaí year-on-year; this is quite serious and this is about giving people an opportunity to surrender their weapons.”
The meeting also saw Councillor O’Shea call on the council to request the Minister for Justice to legislate for the legal age of anyone purchasing knives to be 18 and to raise the legal age for persons acquiring a gun license to 18.
He said the issue is of particular significance in light of recent garda station closures. “There is a huge concern out there about the future of policing,” he added, warning that the closures may drive people to get weapons for protection.
Councillor Johnny Flynn seconded the motion, adding that Ennis, as a large urban area, has lower crime rates than other towns of a similar size. “The last 10 years has seen phenomenal improvements in crime rates. We have a very good town compared with other similar-sized towns. Anything that can improve safety and helps the fight against crime, I am delighted to support.”
Councillor Michael Guilfoyle noted that many crimes go unreported, adding “the removal of garda barracks is going to have a serious knock- on effect”.
