Gardai need more resources — not more laws

BALLYMUN/Finglas, the area I represent on Dublin City Council, has been blighted by so-called gangland murders for many years.

The causes appear to relate to drug-dealing, drug use, material and mental poverty, mental disorder and intimidation.

In none of many formal meetings with the gardaí from Blanchardstown, Finglas, Ballymun or Santry have I heard any demand or yearning for the introduction of the measures contained in the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill.

I continue to have confidence in local gardaí who can deal with this problem if given sufficient resources of manpower and surveillance equipment.

Operation Anvil is successful in apprehending criminals and resulted in the seizure of large quantities of illegal drugs.

Whenever a gang leader is murdered or incarcerated, he is replaced by others almost immediately.

Hero worship of local gangsters by teenagers is a real problem here and redirection of role modelling through sports and other activities is a necessary prevention inadequately used.

The Criminal Assets Bureau should be directed into this area to deal with unexplained wealth and expenditure by all involved.

The Government should not undermine the principles of trial by jury as this is an inappropriate and dangerous overreaction to gun crime. Remember the Heavy Gang and other activities in the 1970s.

Furthermore, the Government should prioritise dealing with the current inhumane conditions in Mountjoy instead of opening a second diversionary front in the Special Criminal Court to accompany the blasphemy distraction. I support the admissibility of electronic evidence from surveillance in so-called gangland cases. Better to have hard evidence to convict rather than mere anecdotes.

As a public representative, I am often told the names of those alleged to have committed heinous crimes. I have seen a gun-toting, coked-out nut in the street. It is scary but not sufficient to support bad law.

If there are solicitors who abuse their positions in instructing clients, then the Law Society should be informed to enable appropriate action to be taken.

Dr Bill Tormey

167 Glasnevin Ave

Dublin 11