Longer periods of questioning for gang crime suspects, and greater restrictions on the right to bail are among the proposals contained in a new Government plan to tackle organised crime.
New criminal offences of membership or directing a criminal gang will be introduced and suspects will face trials in the three-judge, non-jury, Special Criminal Court.
The new measures were outlined at Government Buildings this afternoon by Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern and Taoiseach Brian Cowen.
They described the legislation as groundbreaking and said 'a situation could not be allowed to exist where citizens of this country were in fear of criminal gangs'.
Among the other provisions to be included in the new legislation, the expert opinion of senior gardaí as to the existence and operation of criminal gangs will be allowed as evidence in criminal trials.
The new offences of directing or controlling a criminal organisation will carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
A new offence relating to participation or involvement in organised crime will be created with a penalty of up to 15 years imprisonment.
The Government intends that repeat offenders will be subject to higher sentences, and those convicted will be subject of post release supervision.
The courts will be allowed to draw inferences from failure to answer questions, failure to account for movements, actions, activities or associations.
The maximum penalty for intimidation of a witness or juror will be increased from 10 years to 15 years imprisonment.
Gardaí will be able to detain organised crime subjects for questioning for up to seven days.
Minister Ahern said the new Bill will be given priority in drafting.
‘While I would like to see the New Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009 published this Dáil session, I acknowledge that there are complex legal and drafting issues to be addressed,’ the minister said.
