Communities urged to provide information on gangland feud

The perception of being at risk from violent criminals by providing information to the Garda on feuding gangs was often different to reality , a senior officer involved in working against organised crime has said.

Det Supt Tony Howard of the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau said the affected communities should "help themselves" rather than turn on each other.

He said if members of the public, especially those in Dublin’s north inner city, had information to pass on they could do so anonymously.

Their call would never be traced back to them and they would not be required to ever be identified or give evidence during a court case.

“Certainly people in the north inner city have expressed to me on a number of occasions that they are living in fear,” he said of the area where five of the seven murders in the latest gangland feud have unfolded.

“However, perception sometimes is actually worse than the reality of the problem. We will support people and we will support communities.

"And people need to be aware; if you're living in a community and you do assist An Garda Síochána it's to the betterment of the community if we can solve the problem together."

Speaking at the launch of the annual statistics for Crimestoppers, a confidential hotline through which people can supply information if they preferred not to go to the Garda, Det Supt Howard said the criminal justice system required witnesses to give evidence in court cases.

Some of those calling Crimestoppers or the Garda directly were willing to give evidence in court. But those who felt unable because they were “in fear of retribution or just generally in fear” could give whatever level of assistance they were comfortable with without the need to be identified.

“Obviously we have a serious surge in crime in the city at the moment,” he said, adding every piece of information was acted on.

“Communities are suffering and they’re turning on each other. There is a feeling of fear and helplessness but communities need to help themselves.

“Come forward with the information in a confidential way and I promise An Garda Síochána will assist in resolving the issues that have happened.”

Det Supt Howard said information on the murders had been supplied by people in the local communities, adding the Garda was very grateful for that assistance.

Crimestoppers chairman Tim Dalton believed the organisation had a vital role to play in facilitating the flow of information and intelligence to the Garda from people who may be in fear from the feuding gangs.

“Crimestoppers is ideally suited to that particular form of criminal activity because people may be afraid to make calls (to the Garda) and give their names with the call,” he said.

The organisation was not only about solving crime but also took receipt of information to prevent crime.

Last year Crimestoppers received calls leading directly to the seizure of drugs and weapons and the arrest of those involved in the distribution of images of child sex abuse online and even road traffic offences.

The organisation’s hotline - 1800 25 00 25 - received an average of 129 calls every month during last year, slightly down from the 138 calls per month in 2014.

The drugs seized as a result of the calls included crack cocaine, methamphetamine, cannabis and cannabis; with suspects arrested and charged with drug dealing as a result.

Improvised firearms used in robberies at a convenience store and during an attack on a taxi driver were also found as a result of information supplied to Crimestoppers.

Stolen bicycles were recovered and motorists arrested for a variety of offences including drink driving and driving with no insurance or licence.