Claims McDowell has failed to fight firearms offences

JUSTICE Minister Michael McDowell has been accused of losing the battle against gun crime after latest statistics show a dramatic increase in the number of shooting incidents.

Illegal discharges of firearms increased 40% in the first three months of this year while there was a smaller increase of 2% in the number of cases involving illegal possession of firearms.

Minister McDowell said yesterday he would be introducing mandatory sentencing for firearms offences and would be introducing a legal requirement on owners of legally held guns to prove they have the weapon properly secured at home.