McBreartys lend support to anti-ASBOs campaign

THE McBrearty family have joined students, civil liberties groups and opposition parties in opposing Justice Minister McDowell’s plans to introduce Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs).

The campaign was also backed by singer-songwriter Christy Moore, who yesterday signed a petition begun by Hot Press magazine for the idea to be scrapped.

A protest march will take place in Dublin tomorrow from the Garden of Remembrance at 2.30pm to the Central Bank on Dame Street, where bands will gather for a musical festival.

Organisers are distributing flyers appealing to anyone who has ever “hung around the streets, worn a hoodie, played music in a park or been part of a protest march”.

They say ASBOs could criminalise these activities.

Frank McBrearty Jnr, who attended yesterday’s launch, said ASBOs were unnecessary, given the wide and arbitrary powers already available to the gardaí.

“My family had 198 summonses issued against us for public order offences. Our case is testimony to the problems of public order offences.”

He said that if ASBOs were introduced, Mr McDowell should be the first to be placed under one.

ASBOs have been criticised by the Human Rights Commission, the Garda Representative Association and the National Youth Council. The Green Party and Sinn Féin also backed the launch.

The plan to introduce the orders is contained in changes to the Criminal Justice Bill.