State reply to gangland crime ‘half hearted’

THE Government’s response to gangland crime has been “incredibly apathetic and half-hearted”, Fine Gael justice spokesman Charlie Flanagan claimed last night.

Speaking during a Dáil debate, Mr Flanagan said the Government had done nothing but issue “vague assurances” since the murder of Shane Geoghegan, an innocent victim of the crime gangs, in Limerick earlier this month.

“A hands-off approach has characterised Fianna Fáil’s response to escalating murder rates and a State awash with drugs,” he said.

Mr Flanagan pointed to a number of deficiencies in the current criminal justice system, including:

* Hardened criminals continuing to ply their trade because bench warrants for their arrest have not been acted upon.

* The Government’s failure to provide the gardaí with adequate resources and equipment.

* The “remarkably low” conviction rate for such crimes, with just 14 convictions secured to date for the 130 gangland murders carried out since 1998.

On the first point, Mr Flanagan said it was significant that Gerard Dundon, a leading member of the gang thought to be responsible for Mr Geoghehan’s death, had turned himself into Garda custody last week.

“There was a bench warrant out for his arrest but it had not been executed. Why did Mr Dundon turn himself in? He was worried about his welfare and, now that it suits him, he is availing of the protection of the State.”

Labour justice spokesman Pat Rabbitte called for reform of An Garda Siochána, saying that there seemed little commitment within the force to “genuine” community policing.

“Residents in huge tracts of urban Ireland are unhappy that gardaí are rarely visible in their neighbourhoods,” Mr Rabbitte said.

He also called for the end of political involvement and “party politics” in the Garda promotion process, saying a qualified independent body should make such appointments.

“The time has come... to end the practice whereby Garda appointments above the rank of inspector are made directly by Government,” Mr Rabbitte said.

“This single decision would give more impetus to the dynamic for genuine change than any of the reforms to date which have met with mixed success.”

Responding, Justice Minister Dermot Ahern defended the Government’s record in combating gangland crime.

He said the gardaí and other state agencies such as Customs would shortly begin a renewed and extended programme of checkpoints “with the aim of applying relentless pressure on every front to gangs and their criminal enterprises”.

He said work was ongoing on the legislative front to strengthen criminal law.

Legislation would shortly be brought forward to establish a DNA database for criminal investigation purposes, and a bill allowing evidence gained through covert surveillance to be used in court would also be introduced.

The debate will continue tonight.