Anti-gangland laws - Crime, no punishment

The anti-gangland legislation introduced in 2009 was in response to growing gangland crime.

The legislation received a great deal of publicity, but it would seem that little has changed. There have been no convictions under those new laws yet.

Just eight people have been charged under the provisions of that legislation. Two have been charged with directing criminal organisations, and six were charged with participating in gangland crime.

It should be noted, however, that on 160 occasions the legislation was used to arrest people for questioning, and there have been a range of other convictions on firearm charges, as well as drug offences, violent disorder, and demanding money with menaces.

The stiff sentences prescribed in the 2009 legislation was undoubtedly intended as a crime deterrent. The new offence of directing or controlling a criminal organisation is punishable by up to life in prison, and involvement in organised crime can carry a prison sentence of up to 15 years in jail.

All organised crime offences may be referred to the non-jury Special Criminal Court, which eliminates the danger of the intimidation of jurors.

But the legislation is unlikely to have much deterrent impact if there are no convictions. Senior gardaí and the Director of Public Prosecutions were reportedly keen to test the anti-gangland legislation in court, so the lack of convictions to date does not inspire confidence.