WOMEN were concerned that they were being asked to take a decision in the bail referendum based on their gut instinct and fear of crime, rather than on any convincing arguments that bail restrictions were going to be effective, the chairwoman of the National Women's Council, Ms Noreen Byrne, said yesterday.
"Because women are deeply concerned about crime and are all too frequently the victims, many feel they should vote yes but are uncertain as to whether this will make their communities any safer," she said.
Bail law change was unlikely to have an impact on crime unless there was reform in court processes and delays in cases going to trial were eliminated.
"Women are concerned that if the bail change has an impact we twill simply release convicted criminals from already over crowded prisons to make way for accused people who are then remanded for long periods because of court delays," she said.
She pointed out that women were all too familiar with badly thought out, unnecessary constitutional amendments.
Meanwhile a Socialist Party councillor said a yes vote would only encourage further complacency in the Government's fight against crime.
Cllr Joe Higgins, of Fingal County Council, said effective action to solve heroin addiction would be more effective than 10 referendums.