COUNCILLOR CLAIMS SCANNER MIGHT STOP KNIFE ATTACKS

Date Published: 06-Oct-2009

Tuam Town Councillor Mary Loftus claims that using a scanner to detect if people entering pubs have knives could prevent stabbings.She was speaking at this week's meeting of Tuam's Joint Policing Committee Councillor Loftus suggested the uses of scanners at the entrances to pubs and night clubs, similar to ones in use at airports, to detect if people were carrying knives. Deputy Paul Connaughton said that more young boys seem to be carrying knives and there are no justifiable circumstances where anyone should carry a knife while out socialising.But Cllr Shaun Cunniffee said as there was no knife culture in Tuam it was “a bit daft” to be even discussing this at the meeting.Superintendent Mari Scahill said that while knife attacks were too often the norm now thankfully none of them were in Tuam.She added that two members of the Gardai have been giving talks at local post-primary schools on the dangers of knife crimes.