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10/04/2008
Limerick TD Cries Out For Greater Gardai Powers
A Fine Gael TD for Limerick has implored Justice Minister Brian Lenihan to bring forward yet more measures to tackle the gangland crime in the city.
Speaking on Wednesday in the Dáil, Kieran O'Donnell praised the work of garda in the area, but said further security protection was needed, and a look at present legislation in relation to gangs needed to be revised.
He said: "I want to pay tribute to the tremendous work being done by An Garda Síochána in Limerick in dealing with gangland crime in very difficult circumstances. Limerick is a fantastic city, but additional resources must be provided by the Fianna Fáil Government, along with new legislative measures to ensure that gangland crime is tackled.
"The State has a duty to ensure that innocent people living in Limerick are safe and that the image of the city is not diminished.
"Legislation must be enacted as a matter of urgency to make gang membership a specific criminal offence."
The minister also recommended that gardaí receive additional powers to allow them to obtain exclusion orders that prevent gangland criminals from entering certain areas.
Mr O'Donnell also called on the government to enforce fire arm laws to the full extent of the law.
He said: "The mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years for illegal possession of firearms should be imposed in majority of cases by Judges. Life sentences for murder must be a genuine deterrent - 25 years at a minimum should be served. And if a person is caught in the possession of an illegal firearm, they should not be entitled to bail.
Since 2000, 11 people have been killed in the Limerick gang feuds, and police fear a gang land war if the situation is not contained.
(DW/JM)
Speaking on Wednesday in the Dáil, Kieran O'Donnell praised the work of garda in the area, but said further security protection was needed, and a look at present legislation in relation to gangs needed to be revised.
He said: "I want to pay tribute to the tremendous work being done by An Garda Síochána in Limerick in dealing with gangland crime in very difficult circumstances. Limerick is a fantastic city, but additional resources must be provided by the Fianna Fáil Government, along with new legislative measures to ensure that gangland crime is tackled.
"The State has a duty to ensure that innocent people living in Limerick are safe and that the image of the city is not diminished.
"Legislation must be enacted as a matter of urgency to make gang membership a specific criminal offence."
The minister also recommended that gardaí receive additional powers to allow them to obtain exclusion orders that prevent gangland criminals from entering certain areas.
Mr O'Donnell also called on the government to enforce fire arm laws to the full extent of the law.
He said: "The mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years for illegal possession of firearms should be imposed in majority of cases by Judges. Life sentences for murder must be a genuine deterrent - 25 years at a minimum should be served. And if a person is caught in the possession of an illegal firearm, they should not be entitled to bail.
Since 2000, 11 people have been killed in the Limerick gang feuds, and police fear a gang land war if the situation is not contained.
(DW/JM)
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