Dedicated anti-gang budget cut in half

THE dedicated anti-gangland Garda operation has had its budget slashed in half, the new Garda chief has revealed.

Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan said funding for Operation Anvil had been cut from €21 million in 2010 to €10m in 2011.

But he stressed he could access separate funding to complement this operation. He also said that, if any of the specialist Garda units — targeting organised crime, drugs and terrorism — needed more money for an operation, it would be found.