A youth was detained for questioning in Limerick yesterday following a "joy-riding" and hit-and-run incident which resulted in the death of a 17-year-old girl.
He was detained in Roxboro Garda Station. Two males and two females abandoned a stolen car which was involved in the accident that resulted in the death of a pedestrian, Ms Tanya Noonan, of Sarsfield Gardens, Moyross.
Her male companion, who was not seriously injured when the car struck them at about 11.30 p.m. on Sunday, was treated in the Mid-Western Regional Hospital.
The car was stolen about 15 minutes earlier in a housing estate off the old Cork road. It was spotted by gardaí patrolling in the Garryowen area. While following they came upon the accident.
Chief Supt Gerry Kelly, of the Limerick division, said a new group of young offenders had arrived "on the block. It comes in phases. That is the problem with people going out and stealing cars like this."
Chief Supt Kelly said: "This is a tragedy. I am not minimising it in one way or the other. But to say it is an epidemic is not correct."
The Fine Gael leader, Mr Michael Noonan, said when he was minister for justice he challenged a mindset which had failed to deal with an epidemic of car stealing. He had opened up Spike Island as a juvenile detention centre and the problem had stopped within two months.
This "epidemic" was happening all over again. "There is an equally dramatic intervention required such as mandatory sentencing for car theft which results in injury and death, and this should be introduced as soon as the Dáil resumes."
Junior Minister, Mr Willie O'Dea (FF), said the next government would have to tackle the issue of juvenile detention centres. Public safety had to take priority over rehabilitative measures for young offenders. "We have to turn our attention now to people who are under age. They seem to think they can commit whatever crimes they like because there is no place to lock them up."
The Limerick East Labour Party candidate, Ms Jan O'Sullivan, said that earlier on Sunday evening, in the Keyes Park area of Southill, a boy had narrowly escaped being injured by a stolen car being driven in a pedestrianised area.
"There is no adequate deterrent against this destructive behaviour. It makes a mockery of the work of gardaí when offenders are released to reoffend because there is no place to put them."
The PD candidate, Cllr Tim O'Malley, said anybody convicted of car-stealing should face a long detention period. "These are horrific cases, people walking home mown down by people out for a good time. That is the same as shooting somebody."
Gardaí say there have been major successes in the past three years in tackling joy-riding. "Since 1999, we have had a 60 per cent reduction in stolen cars." At that time 80 cars were being stolen every month in the city.
Other measures included liaising with such groups as Southill Outreach and the Probation and Welfare service. Problems re-emerge when offenders, convicted at the same time, are released at the same time.