Big vote in favour of new gang law

Irish herald

By Andrew Phelan

Saturday July 11 2009

THE DAIL has passed tough new laws that will give gardai and the courts greater powers in tackling gangland crime.

The legislation, which will expand the role of the Special Criminal Court, was voted in by an overwhelming majority.

Justice Minister Dermot Ahern said the Bill was needed in the aftermath of the murder of Roy Collins in Limerick. He said this killing was "an attack on the people, the State and the criminal justice system".

On the last day of the Dail, TDs voted in favour of the legislation by 118 to 23. Fine Gael voted in favour along with Fianna Fail, with Labour and Sinn Fein against.

However, Dublin North East Labour TD Tommy Broughan broke ranks by abstaining.

He explained: "In the dire and urgent circumstances of drug-fuelled gangland crime, some of the provisions in the Bill are necessary."

The Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009 provides for secret court sittings, creates new offences of organising crime, allows gardai to give opinion evidence on gang membership, and will send underworld syndicate trials to the Special Criminal Court.

More than 130 lawyers opposed the legislation saying ti would cause Ireland to be "shamed" at the UN and European Court of Human Rights.

aphelan@herald.ie

- Andrew Phelan

New law a measured response to deal with de-sensitised gangs

Irish Herald

By Andrew Lynch

Thursday July 09 2009

This newspaper has had some harsh things to say in the past about Dermot Ahern's record as Minister for Justice.

So credit where credit is due -- his new criminal justice bill is a welcome development and could prove to be a real turning point in the fight against organised crime.

The big question now is whether he can get it passed through the Dail by the end of the week -- and assert his authority once and for all.

The battle lines have already been drawn. In one corner we have the families of the victims of gangland crime, many of whom have voiced their support for the bill and said that it can't be introduced a day too soon.

In the other is an unholy alliance of lawyers, lobbyists and left-wing TDs, whose opposition to the bill suggests they have little idea of the kind of people the State is up against.

Much of the debate has revolved around the question of whether juries are being regularly intimidated by criminal gangs. There is a wealth of anecdotal evidence to suggest this is the case.

Bullet

The human rights brigade want to see cast-iron proof, not realising that the only way this might materialise is in the form of a murderous thug walking free or a jury member winding up with a bullet in the head.

In an ideal world, of course, we would not need legislation as draconian as this. But desperate times call for desperate measures -- and when children as young as eight are being recruited by gangland leaders, it should be obvious that the time for pussyfooting around is over.

We are now in era of gang members de-sensitised to social mores and operating completely outside the law,.

The bill gives gardai the tools they need to successfully prosecute the gangsters who have literally been getting away with murder for years.

The argument that this is a rush job simply does not stand up for scrutiny. In fact its main provisions have been signalled long in advance, with the Taoiseach making a detailed statement on it last May. The crucial clause that allows gardai to give evidence on the membership of gangs is actually something that the force has been demanding for years.

Dermot Ahern has shown some backbone. For all those whose lives have been made a misery by organised crime, he cannot afford to falter now.

- Andrew Lynch

Fears some lawyers pass on intelligence to gangs

Irish Herald

CONCERN: State solicitor backs law to stop leak of legal information

By Claire Murphy

Tuesday July 07 2009

There is growing concern that a small minority of solicitors are passing on crucial legal information to gang circles.

A state solicitor has said that parts of the Criminal Justice Act were introduced as a means of deterring any solicitor from acting as "intelligence officers" for gangs.

"One of the provisions will allow a judge to hear, in camera, applications in the absence of a prisoner and the prisoner's legal team on reasons why that person should be further detained in the course of an investigation," said Michael Murray, the state solicitor for Limerick city.

"This unusual piece of legislation was promoted by concern within certain official circles that a tiny minority of solicitors are harvesting information on operational matters and passing them on to the criminal fraternity and effectively acting as criminal intelligence officers for criminal gangs," Mr Murray said.

However, it was emphasised that there was no particular reference to solicitors in any specific city or town.

gangland

Mr Murray, a brother of the Chief Justice John Murray, has come out strongly in support of the Criminal Justice (Amended) Act. This piece of legislation provides for the creation of new "scheduled offences" linked to gang activity which will be tried in the Special Criminal Court.

The legislation, which is currently going through the Oireachtas, will give the authorities much broader powers to tackle gangland crime.

Mr Murray also said he was aware of jury intimidation going on, which is an affront to the legal system.

"They started intimidating witnesses, they made life uncomfortable for jurors and the contract they had with the State, they tore up," he said. "Now the contract is being rewritten by the State on its terms and, I think, rightly so."

A Garda source said that there was "merit" in Mr Murray's claims regarding criminal elements. He said that when gardai are interviewing suspects under arrest, certain matters have been repeated to them which they feel could only have come from legal people dealing with criminals.

improper

Defence barrister Brian McInerney said Mr Murray should act if he had evidence that any solicitor had engaged in criminal activity or improper professional conduct.

"One would expect him to bring this evidence before the appropriate authority to be acted upon," he said.

"By this, I mean the State prosecution authorities in the case of alleged criminal activity and if it is an alleged improper professional activity it should be brought before the appropriate professional body."

clairemurphy@herald.ie

- Claire Murphy

Hunt for gang's cars as innocent dad murdered

Irish Herald

CALLOUS: 'Decent' father-of-two gunned down

Shocked residents pictured at the scene of the shooting in Oakview Way.

By Conor Feehan

Monday July 06 2009

The body of a fearless dad, gunned down by criminals, lays covered by plastic sheeting on a city street.

Wayne Doherty became the latest victim of gun toting, coked up gangsters in the capital.

Four cowardly criminals in a convoy of cars took the father's life simply because he had the courage to stand up to them.

The shocking murder of Mr Doherty cast political foot dragging in the Dail over new anti-crime laws in very poor light.

Legislation

Some politicians and lawyers are objecting to the tough gang legislation, aimed at long last with siding the law with the citizen and not the drugs lords.

Detectives were searching for the two cars -- one dark, one silver -- used in the convoy by the killers of the dad-of-two.

The murderers have been identified as members of a "low level gang" from the nearby area of Mulhuddart.

They had been heavily tooled up with at least two guns.

The valiant young dad had deflected one shot, but was fatally wounded by a second.

Detectives believe hard-working Mr Doherty (32) was shot dead as he tried to protect a friend and neighbour from the gang of thugs.

Friends described the delivery man and boxing enthusiast as "fearless".

Mr Doherty confronted the gang when they pulled up outside a neighbour's house at Oakview Way in Hartstown.

Killers

Gardai believe that the young dad's killers came to the area to shoot another man after a row at a christening party in a pub hours before the shooting last Saturday night.

Instead they shot the innocent Mr Doherty in front of his brother and sisters, yards from his parent's front door.

His death was the 16th gun killing to date this year. Like Limerick businessman Roy Collins, shot dead in April, Mr Doherty had no involvement whatsoever in crime.

The victim, who worked as a bread delivery man, was praised by locals as hardworking and a "decent man".

He was not at the bar where the original row took place and was called to his parent's home on Saturday evening because his family and other locals were concerned that an attack was going to take place in the area.

Detectives staged a number of raids last night on properties in the Drumheath area of Mulhuddart connected to the chief suspects for the killings, uncovering an air rifle and balaclavas.

Searches were ongoing today for the sawn-off shotgun used in the incident.

The shotgun blast that killed the dad-of-two was fired immediately after the victim tried to grab the weapon from his killers. Locals today said he didn't stand a chance as the killers immediately regained control and fired a second time.

Wayne had managed to deflect the first blast from the shotgun by trying to grab the gun form his killer, but the gunman then fired the second shot into him at point blank range.

Search

Gardai are following a number of leads are searching for two cars -- one dark, one silver -- used by the killer and his accomplices as they fled from the scene of the murder.

"I was inside my house with my young lad when I heard the first shot, and I jumped up. But by the time I got to my feet the second shot had gone off," said one local man.

"I ran to the door, but by that time the second car the gunmen were in was passing my house an disappearing up the road," he added.

The witness said there was an instant commotion further up the road after the shooting, and he could see Wayne Doherty lying on the path.

He was rushed to the Connolly hospital in Blanchardstown in a critical condition and was pronounced dead at 5.37am.

Today the scene of the killing remained sealed off. The black plastic sheeting that had covered the bloodstains left after the shooting was gone.

Anyone with information is asked to contact gardai at Blanchardstown on 01 6667000.

- Conor Feehan

300 gangland figures will be targeted in state crackdown

Sunday Tribune

Ali Bracken, Crime Correspondent
Justice minister Dermot AhernGardaÍ have identified 300 gangland figures they intend to pursue under new legislation that will see serious criminals face non-jury trials in the Special Criminal Court.
Criminal profilers in each garda division have compiled dossiers on serious criminals they believe should face charges of controlling a criminal gang or membership of a crime gang.
In anticipation of the legislation, criminal profilers have increased their workload in recent months and prepared detailed reports on the gangland figures who will be targeted.
While the most serious crime gangs are based in Dublin and Limerick, it is understood smaller gangs will also be targeted.
"As well as going after the obvious gangs in Limerick and the serious players in Dublin, we're looking at some of the smaller gangs in rural Ireland," said a senior garda source. "Anyone who is involved in serious gang activity is being looked at. Members of the Travelling community involved in gang activity and some gangs carrying out cash-in-transit robberies around the country will be targeted," said the source.
"In anticipation of this legislation, each garda division has drawn up detailed intelligence of the active gangs in each division."
Some arrests will take place in the coming weeks after the legislation is enacted but other cases will take several months as officers want to ensure they have enough evidence against serious criminals to ensure convictions.
A major Finglas drug dealer responsible for several murders and considered the country's most dangerous criminal is a top priority.
"We are not going to rush this. A lot of the groundwork has been done but we have to ensure we have sufficient evidence to convict these individuals," said the source.
Under the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill, set to be law within a fortnight, the director of public prosecutions (DPP) will get one-year, renewable powers to send gangland trials to the non-jury court in a bid to reduce intimidation.
Conviction for gang membership can result in a 15-year jail sentence while conviction for directing a gang can result in life imprisonment. New bugging powers under the Criminal Justice Surveillance Bill will allow evidence gathered via new covert bugging operations. That along with the sworn testimony of senior garda officers will strengthen garda powers to secure prosecutions at the Special
Criminal Court.
Justice minister Dermot Ahern told the Dáil on Friday that gangland criminals were increasingly undermining the legal system and must face no-jury trials before the Special Criminal Court to stop the intimidation of jurors. But the Law Society described as "wrong and dangerous" the speed with which the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill was going through the Dáil.
A separate garda source said there was a possibility that some serious criminals may consider moving abroad to avoid the stringent new legislative powers which have the ability to curtail their activities. "There's been talk of a mass exodus but it's too early to tell. I'm sure some will leave, some already have in Limerick," said the garda.
July 5, 2009

Gardai arrest 80 as crackdown smashes two drugs networks

Gardai arrest 80 as crackdown smashes two drugs networks
Sting operation targets street suppliers


By Tom Brady

Friday July 03 2009

TWO major drugs distribution networks have been smashed by a five-month garda operation, which netted 80 suspected street dealers of heroin and cocaine.

More than a hundred premises were searched by gardai over the past two days as part of the crackdown on the sale and supply of drugs in Dublin's inner city.

The operation resulted in the arrest of 72 men and eight women and all have since appeared before the District Court on charges of supplying serious controlled drugs, mainly heroin and cocaine.

The massive garda operation, codenamed Feeder, was spearheaded by the Garda National Drugs Unit and also involved personnel from Pearse Street, Kilmainham and Store Street stations, as well as district drug units throughout the Dublin metropolitan region.

Feeder concentrated on street dealing between the two canals in the centre of the capital, but focused mainly on the activities of suspected members of two significant gangs.

Key areas under observation since the operation began in February included a number of inner-city flat complexes, including the Oliver Bond and Dolphin House areas on the southside.

Undercover detectives took to the streets to identify potential dealers initially and then purchased small quantities of drugs from them to provide evidence in court. The results of the 'sting' operation were then studied by senior officers before the search and arrest phase was launched this week.

Seizures

A senior garda officer said that the main targets of Feeder were the personnel involved in the dealing, rather than seizures of large supplies of drugs.

"These people may not be in the first tier of drug gang bosses, but they pose a very significant threat at local level and can cause a lot of harm in the areas where they operate," he added.

Acknowledging the work of those involved in the operation, Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy said last night his force was committed to tackling the supply of drugs at all levels.

"We will continue to work with other agencies and communities in tackling the drug problem throughout the country," Mr Murphy added.

Feeder is the latest in a series of special garda operations that began in 1997 targeted at street-level criminality. Other operations included several phases of Cleanstreet, which also focused mainly around the city centre, Marigold in the west city, and Accessory in the northside suburbs.

Gardai have been fighting an ongoing battle to eliminate drug trafficking at Dolphin House, where dealers have been waging a campaign of intimidation against residents who oppose them.

Some of the dealers live in the south inner-city complex, but others are based in Tallaght while carrying out their trafficking in the Dolphin's Barn and Rialto area.

- Tom Brady

Detectives prepare to swoop on gangland kingpins

Detectives prepare to swoop on gangland kingpins

By Barry Duggan and Tom Brady

Thursday July 02 2009

Garda profilers have already started plotting the downfall of the country's most dangerous crime lords as sweeping new gang laws are about to come into effect.

Specially assigned garda profilers in Limerick and Dublin have been gathering intelligence and information on some of the major figures in gangland, the Irish Independent has learned.

Detectives are set to swoop when the new measures come into force in the summer.

Gardai are putting together an extensive profile on the crime bosses and their networks while Justice Minister Dermot Ahern attempts to successfully navigate the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill through the Oireachtas.

In recent weeks, intelligence-led operations, focusing on the McCarthy-Dundon gang in Limerick and their criminal counterparts in Dublin, have intensified.

Profilers in Dublin are focusing in particular on the key players in the gangs involved in the deadly feuds and drug wars that have accounted for a significant portion of the murders over the past few years.

The Irish Independent understands that the profilers have been specifically tasked in recent weeks to piece together all known criminal connections and intelligence to the targets of their investigations.

All of those being targeted have been arrested and questioned in the past about specific crimes, but gardai have been unable to gather sufficient evidence to allow the DPP to bring criminal charges against them.

But the proposed legislation, which is due to pass through the Oireachtas by the end of next week and enacted by the final week of July, will allow the gardai to move against them under tough anti-gangland measures.

Officers are now concentrating on building up enough evidence on the suspects' participation in organised crime gangs to convince the DPP to bring charges under the new legislation.

Untouchable

Many of the gang leaders have regarded themselves as untouchable because they have been using what Mr Ahern described as "patsies" to carry out the crimes while they direct activities from a safe distance.

But the new measures will allow the authorities to close the net on the key figures by charging them with directing a criminal gang, which carries a jail sentence of up to life imprisonment, or participating in a gang, which could result in associates of the leaders being put behind bars for up to 15 years.

Mr Ahern is expected to spell out the reasons for the legislation in detail during a Dail debate tomorrow. The legislation is being supported by Fine Gael, but opposed by Labour and Sinn Fein.

- Barry Duggan and Tom Brady