Gormley denies criminal bill delay claim

GREEN leader and Environment Minister John Gormley has denied he told lawyers the Government’s controversial gangland crime legislation should be delayed to allow further debate.

In the Dáil yesterday, Fine Gael, Labour and Sinn Féin all urged the Government to put the legislation on hold so that its most contentious measures could be properly considered. Fine Gael justice spokesman Charlie Flanagan said that, while his party supported the bill, “there are major issues regarding the detail which must be debated in the House”.

He added: “I am aware that at least one Cabinet minister shares my view in this regard.” Labour, which opposes elements of the bill – particularly the section under which all organised crime trials would take place before non-jury courts – echoed those comments.