The Mayor of Clare has called for corporal punishment to be reintroduced to burglars who subject vitcims to violence or emotional torment, according to media reports.
James Breen, who was formerly a Dail representative in 2012, believes court-sanctioned beatings is the only way to tackle the increasing problem of rural burglaries.
According to The Mirror, Breen made the comments during a meeting of Clare County Council on Monday night, claiming burglars were being treated “like royalty” by the legal system.
Following a unanimously passed motion calling for the Department of Justice to issue grant assistance to rural families looking to purchase burglar alarms, Breen addressed the council adding:
“Jail is not good enough for these people [burglars].
“I am very concerned that there are senior citizens in this county living in fear of their lives with the door and windows of their homes locked day and night. The reintroduction of some form of corporal punishment should be considered.
Image: Clare Herald
“Those thugs, after they go in [to you home] and leave you for dead, they are brought into jail and they are treated like royalty. It is time that this is changed.
“I don’t know what form that this [corporal punishment] might take but it should be considered.”
The Kilnamona councillor expects stiff opposition to his proposal, but said people affected by the crimes will understand:
“Opposition is grand if you are not affected yourself [by crime], but if someone belonging to you is left for dead inside in a house you might reconsider what you are talking about.
“I would appeal to people living on their own to never open their door to someone they don’t know and if they are in doubt, call the local Garda station. Don’t let anyone into you house, regardless of what scam they are putting up, unless you are sure.”
It is expected that the Independent councillor will be contesting the next general election, having narrowly missed out on seats in both the 2007 and 2011 general elections.
