Government publishes new Bill to tackle organised crime
The Government has published new legislation allowing suspected gangland criminals to be tried before the non-jury Special Criminal Court.
The measure is just one of the new provisions included in the Criminal Justice Amendment Bill, which Justice Minister Dermot Ahern hopes to rush through the Oireachtas by next week.
The Bill also provides for tougher sentences, new bail restrictions and longer detention periods.
Minister Ahern said: "This is groundbreaking legislation we are publishing today. It is something we do not do lightly but we have a duty to protect our citizens and ensure the rule of law.
"We cannot tolerate a situation where citizens live in fear of crime gangs. This new legislation sends out a clear message to those involved in criminal gangs that we are taking you head on.
"These so-called crime lords have shown a blatant disregard for human life and an arrogance that they in some way believe they can operate outside the criminal justice system because of intimidation and threats. This is something we can not and will not tolerate.
"This new legislation provides the State with the measures to put these criminals behind bars and help rid law-abiding communities of the scourge of organised crime gangs."
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