Who will call halt to the drivers of death?

In an open letter to the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, THREAD, a community forum in Darndale, Dublin asks for help in tackling chronic social problems

Dear Taoiseach,

The recent tragic deaths of two gardaí have again focused attention on the problem of joyriding. Reckless driving of stolen cars is a deadly activity. Everyone is at risk, young and old, men, women and children, residents and passers-by. It is unfortunate that two gardaí had to die doing their duty before society sat up, took notice and began to ask questions. Such tragedies provoke knee-jerk reactions among politicians and in the media. We look for scapegoats, conveniently ignoring the fact that "joyriding" is a complex and daily problem in our community and there is no quick solution.

Doctors who treat cancer patients first address the symptoms and then the causes. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy deal with the symptoms; the causes of cancer go much deeper, mainly attributed to hereditary factors or lifestyle. The disease must be tackled on both levels.

Driving stolen cars is like a cancer in our community. Symptoms and causes have to be tackled.

Stolen cars follow the pattern of an epidemic in Darndale. Everything is quiet for weeks, and then suddenly night after night we lie awake to the screech of brakes and exploding petrol tanks of burnt-out cars. The Garda will confirm that the problem escalates when particular individuals are "out". As with "drugs", when these people are picked up and put away the problem recedes. The situation also improves when the Garda initiate programmes like Operation Dochas or Operation Nightowl. Unfortunately these initiatives in the community are always short-term. The presence, or indeed the absence, of gardaí is a critical factor.

Serious damage can be done before they arrive on the scene. Are they slower in coming to some areas than to others? Why is a crisis allowed to develop before anyone takes notice? Why do we have to go from crisis to crisis before anything is done? Do we have to wait until someone is killed?

Sometimes a group of mothers dig their heels in and make their presence felt. This is very demanding on the mothers but is most effective. Traffic calming measures reduce the speed of ordinary drivers but have no effect on stolen cars. A road design which blocks easy escape routes deters some. Strong barriers strategically positioned also make a difference.

Those who drive stolen cars want an audience to admire their driving skills. When a stolen car comes into the estate, no matter what time of the day or night, large numbers of spectators gather. Steps to deny the drivers this recognition and status might help; they would certainly help to deter the next generation of reckless joyriders.

Gardaí with the resources to apprehend these drivers, coupled with a Garda policy of "zero tolerance" in this area, would be a good start. Provision of places of detention for young people who steal cars would certainly improve the quality of life in communities like Darndale. Is this issue of resources not the real problem? We seem to have unlimited funds available for projects like the "Bertie Bowl" and the "Spike", but an inadequate health care system and insufficient educational supports for our children in school. It is unbelievable, for example, that Darndale has no full-time School Attendance Officer. What hope can we have that suitable places of detention will be found for those placing our lives at risk, night after night, when even the most basic preventative measures have not been resourced?

The causes of the problem are multiple. Certain patterns emerge. Why is this mainly a problem in areas defined as "socially excluded"? Is it a coincidence? Why do these areas have a greater problem with drugs than other areas? Why do so many children in these areas leave school early? Is it significant that despite its best effort, the schools psychological service cannot guarantee any further assessments before the end of the school year? What support is available to communities who have a high proportion of single parent families?

Many people here believe that the drug problem got out of hand because it was ignored for so long by Garda, Health Board and Local Authority. As long as it was confined to socially excluded areas, it went largely unnoticed. When it got out of control people took the law into their own hands. Vigilantes filled the vacuum. The damage was done.

The situation can be redeemed, but communities like Darndale need help. We need a change of culture, not just from parents but from the agencies and government departments responsible for the services.

This will not happen overnight; the cancer has been in the body for a long time. If government departments and agencies were to sit down with local communities and discuss their needs, how best to address the malaise, then a process of social inclusion could begin. Not so long ago, "handicapped" or "disabled" people in this country were put away out of sight. Nor is it too long since single parents were excluded from their communities. Travellers have special needs and are often excluded today. A change of culture is needed from all of us so that our eyes are opened to what is happening in our society.

The Celtic Tiger, from which most of us have benefited, did not happen by chance. It was the result of choices, decisions and action taken by Government departments, agencies, local communities and individuals. We need an independent audit to establish the needs and gaps in the area of social exclusion. We urgently need personnel at grass roots who have the ability and authority to harness the system, capable of identifying needs and co-ordinating the various services in responding to these needs.

When cancer begins to attack the body it's time to go to the doctor. Serious action is needed before it's too late. Recognising the symptoms is the first step. Timely treatment often results in complete success.

Many people have reduced their risk and improved their quality of life by adopting a healthier lifestyle - giving up cigarettes, taking up exercise and having a balanced diet. With proper supports and structures we are confident that excluded communities can tackle both the symptoms and causes of "joyriding".

Otherwise when condemnation of "joyriding" is no longer the flavour of the month, we will still be left with the same problems and the same danger.

Yours sincerely,

Mary Clarke (THREAD chairperson)

Patricia Reid (THREAD committee)

Catherine O'Meara (THREAD member)

Desmond Cray (THREAD committee)

Áine Hayes (THREAD committee)

Mike Egan (THREAD member)

Father William Fitzpatrick (THREA committee)

Tommy Senior (THREAD committee)

Gerry Bryne (THREAD member)

THREAD (Community Forum), Darndale Belcamp