*Clare TD, Cathal Crowe (FF).
ADDITIONAL GARDA resources for Miltown Malbay have been requested by a Clare TD following Sunday’s stabbing.
Four men were left with non-life-threatening injuries following a public order incident in The Square which occurred shortly after 19:30 on Sunday evening.
Clare TD, Cathal Crowe (FF) labelled it a “vicious and violent incident”. He said he had “a number of conversations” with Gardaí subsequent to the incident and that he penned a letter to the Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan (FF) to ask “for additional Garda resources to be deployed to the area. Miltown Malbay is a fine town with a good reputation and good people. Anyone who acts beyond the law and engages in acts of thuggery must be dealt with toughly and robustly by our criminal justice system”.
Miltown Malbay locals have been critical of elected representatives in the county in the wake of the incident. Among the complaints have been promises of a security presence prior to the use of The Central Hostel to house forty plus male asylum seekers in July 2023.
Deputy Crowe stated, “Whilst many rumours and versions of the violent incident continue to circulate, it’s important that the guards are given space to gather evidence and to interview both witnesses and suspects. I will, however, say that if any of those convicted are Irish citizens or visa-holders, they should face a custodial sentence. If any of those convicted are applying to stay in Ireland, for whatever reasons, they should be deported.
“I believe that the Irish immigration system should be fair, kind and supportive to those who are fleeing genuine strife, violence and risk in their home countries. I equally believe that the Irish immigration system should be robust and quick to deny entry to those who do not have genuine needs to be here or who have abused their period of stay here with acts of illegality. Those who abuse their stay period should also be deported. There are many people who wish to relocate to Ireland for economic reasons. They can apply to do so via the work permit system – providing they have employment available to them and/or a skillset that is required in Ireland, such as the healthcare professions,” he added.
Meelick native Crowe concluded, “Thugs are thugs, regardless of where they have come from – Ireland or far off lands. Decent people need our backing right now – be they from Ireland or far off lands. Miltown Malbay is a beautiful, quiet town that is not used to thuggery and will not tolerate thuggery”.
