The debate over rural policing, and safety of elderly people living in isolated areas in particular, has been thrust back into the headlines with the death yesterday of Limerick man John O’Donoghue , who collapsed and died from a suspected heart attack after coming home to find his home had been burgled. 

62-year-old O'Donoghue was found by his sister at the back of his house in Doon yesterday afternoon. The area of Limerick has no Garda station and the incident has again raised questions about garda resources in rural areas.

Padraig Nally was jailed in one of the most famous cases of a rural burglary, when he shot and killed John “Frog” Ward – a burglar with a string of convictions who was trespassing on Mr Nally’s Co Mayo property in October 2004. Nally shot Ward twice and was convicted of manslaughter, initially sentenced to six years, before having the conviction quashed on appeal.

Speaking to Newstalk Lunchtime today, Mr Nally said he feels “there’s no respect for people now”, and people living in isolated rural areas are living in constant fear of attack or robbery.

“People (are) getting raided and robed and everything and broken into and they’re all the time in fear,” he said.

The level of fear in rural communities remains high, Mr nalyl says.

“You have to be afraid now ... everyone is afraid ... You have to be (on your guard) everyone is”

The low level of resources the gardaí have to work with means there is inadequate cover to properly police isolated areas, he added.

“They cannot catch up with them all because the garda cannot be at every crossroads, Mr Nally said.

“If they’re going down the road there’s something else happening down the road behind their backs – how can they protect the people.”