Cautious welcome by rights group

INTELLIGENCE-LED policing is the most effective way to tackle gangland crime, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) has said.

Reacting to the new Criminal Justice Surveillance Bill published yesterday, the head of the ICCL cautiously welcomed the legislation, which will allow evidence gathered by covert surveillance operations to be used in court.

ICCL director, Mark Kelly, said the bill will at last place Garda surveillance on a lawful basis that broadly conforms to Ireland’s obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights.