Gardai seek new legislation to tackle 'urban terrorism'

Representatives of rank and file gardaí have called for an extension of anti-terrorism legislation to allow the members of crime gangs to be tried in the Special Criminal Court.

According to the Garda Representative Association (GRA), hearing cases in the non-jury court and allowing the sworn testimony of a garda, of the rank of chief superintendent or higher, to form the basis of a conviction would combat this "new brand of urban terrorism".

However, the GRA made a distinction on the charge of membership of a criminal gang and charges of murder against gang members. Murder charges, even against those who are members of crime gangs, should continue to be heard in front of a jury, the association said.

The GRA comments follow criticism of the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell's proposals to tackle organised crime.

Mr Pat Flynn, general secretary of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI), said the extra €2 million pledged to Garda operations against organised crime by the Minister for Justice, was simply not enough.

Mr Flynn said: "We welcome the extra money but what we would say is that two million won't address the long-term problems there."

Minister McDowell yesterday promised the additional funding in the wake of the dramatic collapse on Monday of the murder trial of Limerick man Liam Keane.

The trial at the Central Criminal Court collapsed amid allegations that key prosecution witnesses were intimidated into retracting their evidence.

Mr Flynn said there had been major cuts in Garda spending over the last 12 months and that officers were feeling it on the ground.

"Two million in the context of the problem that is ongoing in this country, particularly in Limerick and particularly the likes of Dublin and Finglas, is not sufficient," he said.

The Taoiseach Mr Ahern today defended the Government's record on crime and the new measures proposed last night. He told the Dáil: "We will have 12,200 gardaí as soon as the present recruitment is completed.

"We have about a billion in resources, we have well over a thousand extra prison places. "We have very good criminal law legislation but perhaps when it's challenged and something happens we have to look at legislation as well."