Fianna Fail proposes 10-year minimum sentence for 'tiger' kidnappers

New legislation to tackle the growth of so-called 'tiger' kidnappings in Ireland is being proposed by Fianna Fáil today.

New legislation to tackle the growth of so-called 'tiger' kidnappings in Ireland is being proposed by Fianna Fáil today.

The party says such crimes are not addressed directly in law, and it is proposing a new 10-year minimum sentence for such criminals.

The crime usually involves the kidnap and holding of the families of employees of financial institutions or security companies, and has become more common in recent years.

The family of Fianna Fáil Party Whip Sean Ó Fearghaíl experienced such a crime last April when his sister was kidnapped as her husband works for An Post - and today he launched the legislation.

“I am today publishing The Criminal Justice (Aggravated False Imprisonment) Bill 2012 to strengthen the law, protect families from tiger kidnappings and make it clear to the thugs behind such kidnappings that the State is serious about stopping them," he said.

"Many families have been terrorised by gangs who must be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

The legislation sets out that: "aggravated false imprisonment” (commonly referred to as tiger kidnapping) means the false imprisonment of a person or persons for the purposes of coercing another (the victim) to commit or assist in, the commission of the offence of theft by holding the falsely imprisoned person or persons hostage as collateral until such time at the victim has met the demands of a criminal organisation".

Deputy Ó Fearghaíl said: "Many people who are working in sensitive financial positions and their families have been subjected to terrifying ordeals by crime gangs who have gone to extraordinary efforts to enrich themselves at the expense of others.

"Tiger kidnappings have caused great fear, even among people who themselves have not been specifically targeted but feel their work may increase the chances of their family being put at risk.

"My family has experienced this at first hand and I don’t want any other families to suffer the same ordeal.

"Under this legislation anyone convicted on indictment will face a minimum sentence of 10 years unless there are specific reasons not to do so in the judgement of the court.”

"This bill amends the provisions of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 to provide for the creation of the statutory offence of Aggravated False Imprisonment."

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