Fianna Fáil spokesperson on Justice, Jim O'Callaghan, has said the brutal nature of knife attacks and their devastating impact on victims underlines the urgent need to address the growing knife crime culture in Ireland before more lives are lost.
The TD for Dublin Bay South said, "In recent days we have again seen horrific acts of violence perpetrated with knives. Unfortunately, the possession of knives has become much more widespread in our society. This is a trend that needs to be reversed through legislative change and education.
"The general population must realise that possession of a knife is a serious offence and be aware of the dangers of carrying knives even if they do so for purely defensive purposes.
"Two years ago, Fianna Fáil introduced an amendment to the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act to increase the maximum sentence for possession of a knife in a public place with intention to inflict injury. That legislation now needs to be enacted so that society’s abhorrence of knife carrying is strongly re-emphasised. A stronger penalty will act as a deterrent.''
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