Ahern vows to press on with controversial bill

JUSTICE Minister Dermot Ahern will proceed with controversial legislation to tackle gangland crime despite the objections of more 130 leading criminal lawyers.

“You will always get lawyers to challenge legislation. This is not a seismic change in the criminal law,” Mr Ahern insisted.

The Government expects to push the Criminal Justice [Amendment] Bill through the Dáil before it rises for the summer recess tomorrow night.