Gun crime comments - McDowell undermines his position

TÁNAISTE and Justice Minister Michael McDowell was under heavy political fire last night after he admitted that drug-related gun crime is now a “matter of huge concern for the State”.

In fact, he compared the current threat presented by drug and criminal gangs as being similar to the earlier danger posed by the paramilitaries, who threatened the very foundations of our democracy.

Politicians generally crave publicity, and Mr McDowell has been no exception. He has played for high stakes and has enjoyed a particularly high profile over the past two decades.

Both as a front man and behind the scenes, he has been a major player in some of the most momentous decisions and political controversies. He was one of the driving forces behind the Progressive Democrats when they compelled Fianna Fáil to go into coalition for the first time in 1989.

He was also a force at the time of the removal of Tánaiste Brian Lenihan, the following year, when he also play a significant role in the defence of Mary Robinson in her successful bid for the Presidency.

He has had the courage of his convictions in speaking out, but sometimes he has tended to speak with more passion than consideration. In the process he has left hostages to fortune.

In November 2004 he played down the growing wave of violent crime. “I don’t believe there is new energy in crime in Dublin,” he said. “I believe that it is to some extent the sting of the dying wasp.”

Since then the murder rate has continued to increase. The level of murders or manslaughters rose to 62 in 2005 and to 66 in 2006, which is the highest level since the foundation of the State.

In addition, the number of assaults causing harm rose by 21% in the final three months of 2006.

Some aspects of this growing form of criminality can be attributed to the country’s increasing prosperity.

There is now more affluence than ever and this has fuelled the drug culture and the enormous profits that can be made from this form of criminal activity.

Michael McDowell took the portfolio as Minister for Justice after a full term as Attorney General, so he was well briefed on the difficulties of the task ahead of him, but he has undermined his position by the exaggerated manner in which he played down the growing problems.

His belated recognition of the magnitude of this most serious aspect of the crime problem hardly inspires confidence.

In fact it leaves him wide open to attacks from those critics whose legitimate fears he savaged and ridiculed in the past.