Noonan attacks minister on crime strategy

JUSTICE Minister Michael

“Intimidation has been prevalent in certain areas in Limerick for sometime now and this is well-known to the Garda Síochána. It is widely believed that one murder was motivated by a desire to prevent a witness appearing in court,” said the former justice minister. “It was impossible to swear in a jury in Limerick in a major murder case and witnesses in another case who made statements to the gardaí were not prepared to repeat in court what they said in their statements.

“These are clear messages of intimidation and the minister for justice, who has the prime responsibility of protecting the citizens of Ireland, is failing in his duty to deal with this intimidation.