Special 'gangland' powers have led to record number of arrests  

Garda Armed Support Unit members outside the Special Criminal Court in Dublin. Some 13 convictions were secured in the last year, nine of them for Section 72 offences. File picture

The use of special gangland laws reached its highest ever levels in the last year, with over 150 arrests — 40 more than the previous year. 

This translated into a significant rise in the number of charges brought forward — from 30 to 49.

The legislation — targeting gang bosses, lieutenants, members, and associates — directs that any charges be brought before the non-jury Special Criminal Court, unless the DPP diverts them to the ordinary courts.

A total of 152 arrests were carried out by gardaí in the year ending May 2025, a rise of 36% on the previous year.

The offences are under the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009, which makes crimes in a 2006 act scheduled offences under the Offences Against the State Act 1939.

The main offences are directing the activities of a criminal organisation (Section 71A), participating in or contributing to a criminal organisation (Section 72), and committing an offence for such an organisation (Section 73).

An official report on the use of the 2009 act reveals:

• 152 arrests between June 1, 2024 and May 31, 2025, compared to 112 the previous year and 110 the year before that;
• 13 arrests for directing (Sec 71a), the same as the previous year — both the highest so far;
• 114 arrests for participating in/contributing to (Sec 72), compared to 92 the previous year and 90 the year before that;
• 25 arrests for committing an offence for a criminal organisation, compared to seven arrests the previous year and 18 the year before that. 

The report said a total of 49 charges were brought before the courts, compared to 30 charges the previous year, up 63%, and 22 the year before that.

The 49 charges included 13 for directing a criminal organisation, an offence, on conviction, attracting a maximum of life in prison. Offences of participation or committing a crime for a criminal gang both attract a maximum of 15 years.

Included in the 13 charges for directing a criminal organisation is that of  Sean McGovern, who was extradited at the end of May from the United Arab Emirates after the signing of an extradition treaty between Ireland and the UAE.

13 convictions secured

Some 13 convictions were secured in the last year, nine of them for Section 72 offences. These included Jason ‘Jay’ O’Connor, from Blanchardstown, west Dublin, who was sentenced to 11 years in prison for enhancing the ability of a criminal organisation — namely the Kinahan cartel — to carry out a murder.

The report is compiled for the Minister of Justice as part of the yearly renewal of the powers in the Oireachtas.

The surge in gangland arrests is in contrast with a continuing reduction in arrests against suspected terrorists.

A separate report shows that 32 arrests were carried out between June 2024 and May 2025 under certain provisions of the Offences Against the State Act 1939 and 1998, which related to subversive activities and unlawful organisations, such as dissident republicans.

The number of arrests compares to 39 the previous year and 53 the year before that.

There were seven arrests for membership of an unlawful organisation (Section 2) in the last year, compared to 11 the previous year.