New Criminal Justice Bill Comes Into Force

Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald, has announced the commencement of the Criminal Justice (Burglary of Dwellings) Act 2015, which includes new laws to tackle repeat burglars.

Announcing the new Bill, which came into effect on Sunday, 17 January, Minister Fitzgerald said: "Burglary of a person’s home is a heinous crime and traumatic for every victim. This important new Act targets repeat burglars. It will help keep repeat burglars off the streets and improve the safety of our communities. The Act allows for bail to be denied, and consecutive sentences to be given, to repeat burglars".

Minister Fitzgerald first proposed this legislation in 2015 following consultations she held with senior Gardai and other key stakeholders in the Criminal Justice area with a view to tackling problems of repeat burglaries. Statistics provided by the Garda Síochána Analysis Service indicate that 75% of burglaries are committed by 25% of burglaries.

Minister Fitzgerald added: "I am prioritising efforts to tackle Ireland’s hardened cohort of repeat offenders. Tackling repeat offending will reduce crime levels and this new Act is an important step forward."

The Minister noted that this legislation underscored the importance of the home which is recognised by Article 40.5 of the Constitution which states 'The dwelling of every citizen is inviolable and shall not be forcibly entered save in accordance with law'.

The Criminal Justice (Burglary of Dwellings) Act 2015 provides that, for the purposes of bail applications, a previous conviction for domestic burglary coupled with two or more pending charges shall be evidence of likelihood to commit further domestic burglaries. This provision, while leaving the courts all necessary discretion to vindicate the constitutional rights of an accused person, allows a court in the absence of evidence to the contrary to conclude that the accused person is likely to commit a serious offence and could, therefore, refuse bail on that ground.

The Act also places a requirement on a court which decides to impose prison sentences for multiple burglary offences to impose those sentences consecutively. The Act requires that any sentence of imprisonment for a second domestic burglary must be consecutive to any sentence of imprisonment for any other domestic burglary committed in the six months prior to or after the second sentenced offence.  The discretion of a court whether or not to impose a custodial sentence is not restricted. It will still be a matter for the sentencing court to decide whether imprisonment is warranted for any given offence and, if so, the duration of the sentence for each offence.

(MH/CD)