THE chairman of the ICMSA's rural development committee has written to the Minister for Justice, Ms Owen, calling for a full review of crime prevention in rural areas.
In his letter, which was also sent to the Garda Commissioner, Mr Patrick Culligan, Mr Dan McCarthy said that the elderly population in rural Ireland will continue to expand well into the next century. "The resources for dealing with rural came will have to be increased if the elderly are not to be lefty as sitting ducks for criminals.
"Elderly people living in remote areas are soft targets for mindless thugs who have abandoned urban crime because of the increased security awareness of the business communities and residents of towns and cities."
He said it was totally unsatisfactory that restricted hours of opening operated in Garda stations in many parts of rural Ireland.