Tough laws must be backed up by prisons

THE article, ‘Tough laws to tackle soaring gun crime’ (Irish Examiner, October 27) outlines the Minister for Justice’s proposals for increased and mandatory sentences for those who use guns.

No doubt this will be of considerable relief to those who have been traumatised by thugs carrying guns.

The minister’s much-publicised closure of Shanganagh Castle, and his mothballing of the Curragh and Fort Mitchell prisons have seriously reduced the capacity of Ireland’s prisons. How can this equate with zero tolerance on crime?

This raises the all important question: where does the Minister intend to incarcerate those so convicted and sentenced? Surely we are not going to see the infamous revolving door begin to spin again?

Patrick Jordan

50 Monksfield Heights

Clondalkin

Dublin 22