The Mirror, London, 5 April 2003

Poll backs floggings

THE majority of Irish people want public floggings to curb soaring crime figures, a survey has shown.

Almost 86 per cent of the 1,000 people in Dublin who responded to the phone study by FM104 on Thursday night said they wanted corporal punishment introduced.

The poll reflects growing anger at the rise in serious crime, such as sex assaults and car thefts.

FM104 presenter Adrian Kennedy said: "Our research may have been hypothetical but the results are stark and conclusive."

Garda figures published this week revealed serious crime rose by 22 per cent.