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Crime dominates agenda as first weekend of election campaign gets underway

Crime is dominating day four of the General Election campaign. The Taoiseach says a second S...
Newstalk
Newstalk

13.29 6 Feb 2016


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Crime dominates agenda as firs...

Crime dominates agenda as first weekend of election campaign gets underway

Newstalk
Newstalk

13.29 6 Feb 2016


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Crime is dominating day four of the General Election campaign.

The Taoiseach says a second Special Criminal Court should be established to deal with gangland and terrorist criminals.

Meanwhile, the Fianna Fáil leader says gardaí need more resources to tackle gangland criminals.

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In the wake of yesterday's murder in Dublin, which is believed to be connected with gangland activity, Micheál Martin says more specialist resources are needed to tackle crime.

On the campaign trail in Roscrea, he says criminal gangs are now killing people without fear of prosecution:

The Taoiseach is promising Fine Gael would establish a second special criminal court in a bid to tackle delays in the current one.

Campaigning in Dublin, Enda Kenny says he rejects the Sinn Féin proposal to abolish the non jury court:

He also hit out at Micheál Martin, saying Fianna Fáil shut down the Garda training college and starved gardaí of resources.

Elsewhere, Joan Burton says that without the Special Criminal Court, the courts could not have brought people to justice in cases like the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin.

She says it is particularly important in cases such as gangland shootings, where jurors may be intimidated.

The Tánaiste says that the courts have to have the power to prosecute serious criminals, saying "we're living in Ireland, not Mexico. We have to ensure we can deal with the small number of criminal gangs."


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