Ahern claims criminals infiltrating gun clubs to train in use of handguns

GUN clubs are being infiltrated to help train criminals in the use of handguns, Justice Minister Dermot Ahern has told the Dáil.

He defended a provision in the new Criminal Justice Bill outlawing “practical and dynamic” shooting drills which involve role-play situations. “What has been going on in some of these shooting ranges is nothing other than mimicking combat-style shooting,” he said.

Mr Ahern said bona fide gun club groups had written to him in support of the measure, because they had no desire to promote this type of activity.