Laws to target burglar gangs

Judges will be obliged under new laws to hand down consecutive sentences in multiple burglary cases and be allowed to refuse bail in certain situations.

The laws come as figures show a very high rate of repeat offending among burglars on release from jail — with some eight out of 10 reoffending.

The bill comes just a week after John O’Donoghue, aged 62, died after he encountered intruders at his home in Doon, Co Limerick.