Weapons amnesty will not affect crime gangs, admits Minister

An amnesty which allows people to hand in firearms without fear of prosecution will not lead to any significant reduction in the arsenals of Irish crime gangs, according to the Minister for Justice Michael McDowell.

The amnesty will operate during September and October ahead of the introduction of new minimum mandatory jail sentences for firearms offences. Other measures aimed at tackling organised crime and increasing detention powers for gardaí under the Criminal Justice Act 2006 came into effect.