Middle-ranking gardaí back controversial crime bill
The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) called on all political parties to support the Criminal Justice Bill 2007.
The move came as theassociation passed a motion at their annual conference calling on the Government to declare the spate of gangland killings a national emergency.
AGSI general secretary Joe Dirwan, said: “As upholders of the law we rightly call this a national emergency because such crimes are being carried out all over the country and drugs are being peddled in our smallest villages. I cannot accept that any civilised society should simply stand back and let such thuggery take place without the forces or law and order stepping in.
“All killings, no matter of whom, are an assault on our society and as such we should spare no effort to bring those responsible to justice,” he added.
Mr Dirwan said heacknowledged that there was an appreciation of the problem by Mr McDowell.
“In his latest Criminal Justice Bill he is attempting to put in place measures which will help to shift the balance once again in favour of society and against the hardened repeat criminal.
“We urge our public representatives to support the measures in the bill.”
He said that innocent people were getting caught up in gangland killings.
“The garda response must be vigorous. We must have proper resources and proper training to deal with armed and ruthless gangs.”
Dublin South Central delegate Eddie Murphy, who proposed the motion, said there was no doubt that gangland killings posed as much a threat to Irish democracy as the IRA/terrorist threats over the past decades.
He said juries should be allowed to draw inferences from hardened criminals picking a spot on the wall and refusing to answer questions while in custody.
Mr Murphy also called on the Government to convene a civic forum to address the increase of violence in the country, as highlighted by the gangland killings.
He said the forum could represent all views, including people with a view opposite to that of gardaí.
“A law and order response is not going to cure all our ills. The call for a civicforum is an acknowledgement of that. However, the forum must have a common goal — how best to address and indeed redress the ills of our society.”
Mr Dirwan said thenational executive supported the motion.
“As a society we must ask ourselves why has violence become so endemic in our midst. Look at the number of random unprovoked assaults taking place at weekends, the spread of drugs and the abuse of alcohol,” he said.
Mr Dirwan welcomed the Government’s announcement on Tuesday to authorise the use of less than lethal electric devices, known as TASER weapons, by the Emergency Response Unit. But he said the weapon should be made available to all members allowed to carry firearms.
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