Labour TD sacked as assistant whip over stance on gangland laws

LABOUR deputy Tommy Broughan faces a €6,000 pay cut after being sacked from his position as assistant party whip because of his stance on new laws to tackle gangland crime.

The Dublin North East TD abstained from voting on the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill in a Dáil vote last Friday despite a decision by his party to oppose the controversial legislation which will see gang members tried in the non-jury Special Criminal Court.

Mr Broughan said at the weekend that he defied his party’s stance because of his “gut feeling” that very strong measures are required to tackle gangland crime which has been a problem in the constituency he represents.

He said that after examining the legislation “on balance I agreed with it” and that “I couldn’t press the button” to vote against.

He said gangland figures were “operating with impunity” and their activities were a “threat to the State”.

Mr Broughan also said he would like to see changes to the way the Dáil operates that would allow opposition figures have a more genuine participation in policy formation.

Labour issued a statement yesterday evening saying party leader Eamon Gilmore made the decision to remove Mr Broughan from the position “arising from his failure to vote with his party colleagues in a Dáil vote on Friday last on the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009”.

The statement said: “A new assistant whip will be appointed before the resumption of the Dáil in September.”

Mr Broughan will remain as the party’s spokesman on transport but will lose the €6,000 attached to his position as assistant party whip.