A significant majority of people do not feel safe walking the streets of Kilkenny city, according to a survey of 600 people last week by the Kilkenny Against Violent Activity group. More than 80 per cent felt there were too few gardai on the streets. Drink was blamed for the upsurge in violence in the city by 64 per cent of respondents.
Almost all those who filled in the questionnaire want judges to pass harsher sentences and impose heavier fines, according to Ms Sinead Comerford, of KAVA.