Harney defends ASBO plans amid growing criticism

The Tánaiste Mary Harney has defended the Government's plans to introduce controversial anti-social behaviour orders.

Minister for Justice Michael McDowell is planning to introduce the measures to crack down on unruly teenagers said to be terrorising their neighbours in housing estates throughout the country.

Under the scheme, the courts can order out-of-control youngsters to cease their behaviour or face imprisonment if they fail to comply.

This has led to major concerns in many quarters as it could see people being sent to prison on the basis of hearsay evidence without any criminal conviction.

Yesterday, the Irish Human Rights Commission and the Ombudsman for Children both slammed the Government's plans, claiming they would effectively criminalise troubled teenagers.

The Green Party also said today that the ASBO initiative could end up ruining the lives of young people for what amounts, in reality, to trivial offences.

However, Ms Harney has insisted that the orders will only be used as a last resort and only when absolutely necessary.

"We have to acknowledge that children as young as 10 and 11 years of age are doing very serious things in some communities and I think we have to have different instruments to be able to deal with different issues," she said.