Taoiseach rallies behind Herald as he warns 'don't risk lives, ditch the knives'
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BRIAN COWEN: 'Everybody must play their part'
Wednesday October 21 2009
Taoiseach Brian Cowen has rowed in behind the Herald's Bin the Blade campaign.
Mr Cowen is the latest high-profile figure to back our efforts to make Irish streets safer by taking knives out of circulation.
Speaking today, he said: "As Taoiseach, I fully endorse the Herald for its Bin the Blade campaign.
"Knife crime is a serious issue and I know my colleague Dermot Ahern recently introduced some very tough new laws."
Mr Ahern was one of the first people to support the drive, which was initiated after a series of stabbings around the country.
In recent weeks the Herald has repeatedly broken horrific stories of knife attacks on innocent victims, including one on a 15-year-old during his lunch break from school.
More than 1,000 blade-related offences have been perpetrated already in 2009.
Acknowledging the challenge to stop the knife culture, Mr Cowen said: "The gardai have devoted many resources to an awareness campaign, visiting in particular schools around the country.
"In tandem with that, the Justice Minister has imposed very severe penalties for anyone caught carrying a knife or an offensive weapon. In addition, garda powers of search are much stronger."
Gardai are now dealing with more than 30 knife-related crimes every week, in spite of tough new laws introduced in July. The country was shocked in August by the tragic murder-suicide inflicted by Shane Clancy on Seb Creane.
Clancy had bought a block of knives at a 24-hour grocery store before driving to his victim's house and carrying out a frenzied knife attack, before turning the blade on himself.
Mr Cowen noted that while the laws are making a difference, "we can all play a part, either as parents, relatives or neighbours of young people who are the most vulnerable".
He added: "The simple message is carrying a knife will not make you any tougher -- in fact it could result in being imprisoned for up to five years or being seriously injured or maimed."
- Kevin Doyle
