McDowell vows to strengthen bail laws

AFTER a vicious gun crime spate that has seen five people murdered in six days, Tánaiste and Justice Minister Michael McDowell yesterday vowed that he would make sure that the country’s tough bail laws were fully implemented.

He criticised the judiciary for not applying the strict bail laws introduced in the wake of a Constitutional referendum two years ago and for refusing to impose mandatory sentences in 80% of cases where they applied.

In a startling disclosure, Mr McDowell admitted yesterday that many of the criminal associates of a leading underworld figure gunned down this week were currently out on bail.