Gang participation laws ‘bordering on useless’, say gardaí

Key organised crime laws are “bordering on useless” and delays in securing search warrants are jeopardising investigations, experienced gardaí have claimed.

Garda sources said that legislation criminalising participation in, and direction of, a criminal organisation had resulted in less than a handful of convictions in the past six years.

The laws were included in the Criminal Justice Acts 2006 and 2009.