'Scale-down' of Operation Anvil: FG

Fine Gael has hit out at the Justice Minister, Brian Lenihan, claiming that he has instigated a scaling down of garda operations targeting gangland crime.

The party claims that persistent cost-cutting has resulted in less resources for major initiatives like Operation Anvil.

"It seems to me that budgets and money for gangland operations are being cut across the Dublin area particularly," said Charlie Flanagan, Fine Gael's Justice Spokesperson.

"It's most important that the Minister ensures that all these units - particularly the gangland units - are properly resourced to assist the Gardaí as they try to make our streets safer," he said.