'Ireland stands at the abyss' when it comes to violent murderous crimes - expert
The Republic of Ireland is the deadliest place to live in the Irish and British isles - startling new figures have confirmed.
An Independent.ie analysis of homicide rates over the last decade reveals that you are almost six times more likely to be shot and killed in the 26 counties as you are in England/Wales.
And, contrary to popular belief, the gun homicide rate in the Irish Republic was more than double that of Northern Ireland for the ten years from 2005 to 2015.
A top criminologist has now claimed "Ireland stands at the abyss" when it comes to violent murderous crimes generally and "specifically involving guns".
John O'Keeffe, Head of the School of Psychology & Criminology, City Colleges' Dublin, said An Garda Siochana has not been given the necessary tools to face dangerous crime gangs.
"Gang members know that if they are confronted by gardai they will almost certainly have the upper hand when it comes to firearms.
"Irish police have extendable batons and pepper spray - Irish criminals have Glochs and AK47's - there can only be one winner.
"Modern Irish criminals regard An Garda Siochana and their tools as play things - in the meantime, people get eviscerated in the cross fire generated by these gun toting savages."
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Mr O'Keeffe said it is time for people in Ireland to wake up to the reality of our gangland culture: "Dublin and Ireland prides itself on having a routinely unarmed police force while other EU countries look on in disbelief."
Independent.ie can reveal that in the last decade there were 201 gun murders or manslaughters in the Republic of Ireland between 2005 and 2015 (statistics below).
Recorded Incidents Where a Firearm is Involved 2005 - 2015
Recorded Incidents Where a Firearm is Involved 2005 - 2015
Independent.ie also crunched the numbers for overall homicide rates and while the differences aren't as stark the Republic still has highest per capita rate.
We had 970 killings (average of 2.11 per 100,000 per annum) in the period; Scotland had 889 (1.68 per 100,000 per annum); Northern Ireland with 252 (1.39 per 100,000 per annum); and finally police in England/Wales recorded 6,123 (1.09 per 100,000 per annum).
The overall homicide rates have dropped across all four states over the last 10 years.
Asked to explain that dramatic differences in the rates Mr O'Keeffe explained that Irish people have almost come to accept a violent gun culture.
"When guns are used in "mainstream" crime, Irish society always regards it as a one off event, shakes its head and moves on.
"The reality is, it is no longer a one off or unusual event for a gun to be used - the use of guns in 'regular' crime has now become a 'normal' conclusion to a crime event in Ireland."
He added that there is no lasting back bone in the Irish criminal justice system.
"Crises such as these are always met by one off, band aid solutions - either from a policing or a legal perspective.
"Ireland is a society that deals in waves of success and failure when it comes to the economy or crime - we appear to have no will to create a moderate platform on which we can build real change for the better when it comes to regular and especially organised crime."
He added that our depleted police force, the prevalence of drugs and the "clannish" culture in Irish organised crime all contribute to our alarmingly high rate.
Online Editors
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