THE BAIL referendum may be less than a week away but there is still not much evidence of public interest in it in Limerick city. The majority of people questioned at random by The Irish Times yesterday had difficulty explaining the issues at stake.
A Lower Gerald Griffin Street businessman, Mr Noel Martyn, said he was aware of the referendum, but did not know what the issues were. "I haven't actually sat down and studied it. I believe it's to keep people in prison until their court case comes up. They won't get bail if it is considered a serious crime. I will definitely read about it before polling day," he said.
Ms Marie Bromell from Rathbane, a receptionist in Southill House, headquarters of Southill Community Service Board, was not aware that the referendum was coming up. "I don't know what it is about, but I will be interested in finding out," she said.
A telephonist at the University of Limerick who did not wish to be named declared: "I am indeed aware of it and I know what it is about. I will be voting Yes, as I believe the criminal has more rights at the moment than the victim.
Mr John Spillane runs a stationer's business on the Ennis Road with his wife Carmel, and they were both emphatic that they were voting No. "I'm not sure when it's on," Mr Spillane said, "but I know it's about curtailing bail for people on remand. The referendum is based on the fact that people may offend while on bail.
"I do not agree with writing that into the Constitution, because it is not definite. The Constitution should only contain definites," he said. He added: "I do not trust governments or the Department of Justice with that sort of legislation. You could end up with what happens in Italy and France, with people in jail for four years or more and who in the end could be found not guilty."
Mrs Spillane said she was much aware of the referendum. "I have heard enough about it on television to do me for an eternity." She added: "I am voting No because I think the police have enough laws at present to deal with offenders and such legislation could lead to a police state situation."
The Limerick Chronicle had two full-page advertisements in Irish and English on Tuesday evening, placed by the Ad-Hoc Commission on Referendum Information established by the Minister for the Environment. Statements in favour of and against were outlined in detail, but none of the people approached by The Irish Times had seen the ads or made any reference to them.
A fourth-year production management student at the University of Limerick, Mr Colm Flynn, from Clonmel, was aware of the referendum but felt it was not getting the same media exposure as others in the past. "I haven't seen the actual text and nobody seems to know what the issues are. Basically, it's a hardening of the bail laws to stop people from offending while on bail."