Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern has directed Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy to target gangland crime in 2009 and has said funding will be maintained next year to do so.
Mr Ahern said in a statement he had approved the policing priorities for next year saying ¿serious crime, in particular gun and drug-related crime¿ would be top of a list of priorities next year.
There have been 19 gun murders so far this year. In the latest apparent gangland killing, a man was shot in the neck and body in the living room of his rented house in Ashcroft Grove, Blakestown, northwest Dublin last week.
The victim's baby daughter was in bed in an upstairs room when the attack took place. The dead man, Seán Cloherty (27), was originally from Glasnevin, Dublin, and had moved into the Blakestown house earlier this year.
¿At a time when public finances are under pressure, I have ensured that within the Justice, Equality and Law Reform area top priority is given to the fight against gangland crime,¿ Mr Ahern said in a statement.
¿Funding for Operation Anvil and other key operations will be maintained through 2009 and any savings that have to be made will not be allowed to diminish frontline policing.¿
Gardai are to concentrate on five other key areas, Mr Ahern said. They are: domestic and international terrorism; road safety; ¿public order; illegal immigration and human trafficking; and customer service and response times.
The Garda¿s policing plan will be published in the near future, Mr Ahern said.
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