Tóibín wants automatic jail for those who assault gardaí or frontline workers

Anyone convicted of physically assaulting a garda, heath worker or anyone working in emergency services, should be given a custodial sentence of at least six months, Aontú leader and Meath West TD Peadar Tóibín has said this week.

In the last ten years, 2,411 gardaí have been assaulted while on active duty.

Deputy Tóibín has successfully tabled a new bill to the Dail that if enacted would provide for a minimum custodial sentence for anyone convicted of such offences. The Bill passed first stage in the Dáil today (Wednesday).

“That figure of 2,411 gardaí came in an answer to a parliamentary question that we in Aontú received just in the last few weeks,” said Deputy Tóibín before going on to state that it was “absolutely not acceptable that hundreds of gardaí going about their service to the community would be assaulted”.

“This is a terrifying figure for both gardaí and their families,” he said.

“The government must take steps to protect gardaí while they are serving our community.

“In the last few weeks we have seen gardaí have their hands bitten, having their cars rammed and being seriously assaulted in Ballyfermot. This is disgraceful.

“The government have hung the gardaí out to dry through years of under-resourcing and understaffing. According to a Eurostat report in 2016 Ireland had one of the smallest per capita police forces in the EU at 278 gardaí for every 100,000 people. This was 40 police officers per 100,000 people less than the EU average. This leaves gardaí vulnerable.

“The most recent figure that I have received from the Department of Justice shows that there are now only 280 gardaí per 100,000 in the state. It's hardly improved since the dark days of austerity. We have also found out that only 150 garda trainees were recruited last year yet hundreds of gardaí are retiring each year.”

Deputy Tóibín said Aontú’s bill is also aimed at extending protection to prison officers, members of the fire brigade, ambulance personnel and health service workers with protection.

“Frontline staff working in the lreland East Hospital group have made 3,500 assault reports in the last seven years. We have also seen Fire Service personnel attacked with bottle and rocks while they are doing their life saving work.

“These workers put themselves in harm’s way for the protection of other citizens.”

Deputy Tóibín said Aontú Bill provides for, on summary conviction, a six month custodial sentence or on conviction on indictment, two years’ imprisonment.

“We are also aware of a significant level of assaults being carried out or ordinary citizens many of which are severe and go without a custodial sentence. We are researching the best way to deal with this at the moment in terms of the application of a minimum custodial sentence for these types of crimes,” he concluded.