Ireland’s counterfeit gang laws ‘insufficient’

Ireland has insufficient laws to tackle the growing problem of criminal gangs passing off counterfeit euro notes, according to the European Commission.

The commission is attempting to crack down on criminals who counterfeit around half a million euro notes and coins a year, resulting in €500m in financial damage since the introduction of the single currency.

As part of the crackdown, the commission plans to bring in minimum penalties, including imprisonment, for counterfeiting offences.