Liveline - from the POST

Programme accused of exaggerating city crime
RTE’s radio programme, Liveline has been accused of lacking balance by a spokesperson for the Limerick City Co-ordination office, Mary Dundon.She was referring specifically to the recent Liveline programme that focused on crime in Limerick and which gave over 10 minutes to an on-air row between Limerick city man, Anthony Kelly who has escaped yet another attack on his life and a woman who claimed he was connected to her brother’s death over 20 years ago."Mr Kelly was acquitted of these charges but Liveline allowed both parties to hurl accusations and counter accusations at each other, giving the impression that this is the true picture of how Limerick people act,” said Ms Dundon who criticised the broadcasting company for not giving balance to all its programmes.She also contended that the programme’s presenter, Joe Duffy, added to the "exaggerated portrayal of crime” in Limerick by asking both parties - "is it really that bad in Limerick?”Insisting that the statistics prove that Dublin has a far worse crime problem on its hands, Ms Dundon points out that compared to Dublin, which has had 30 murders in the past 15 months, there have been two in Limerick."And Limerick gardai are winning the war on crime with over 50 of the feuding gang members now in jail,” she insisted.