While thousands were issued in the UK in the years before they were overhauled recently, the use of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders in Ireland has been minuscule. So are they working and do we still need them? TheJournal.ie investigates…
Here’s everything you need to know to get to grips with the planning and permission tribunal of inquiry, which is likely to deliver its final report this morning.
Dermot Ahern suspected there had been at least three rendition flights through Shannon, but took America’s word for it – even though he feared paying “a severe political price”.
Nine things you need to know by 9am: no sign of a thaw in icy conditions, John Gormley compares being a government minister to being “in asylum” and Fruitbatgate lecturer claims he was not given a fair hearing.
OVER 10% MORE people went to jail last year than in 2008, according to the latest report from the Irish Prison Service (IPS). A total of 15,425 people went to prison in 2009, an increase of 13.8%.
There was a huge increase in the numbers imprisoned for failing to pay court-ordered fines through 2009 – over 90% up on 2008 to 4,806.
The daily average number of people in custody increased by 8.5% (337 prisoners) and most prisons operated at or above full capacity.
Last week, a report from the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IRPT) criticised the government’s plan to break the new Thornton Hall facility into three construction stages. The group said the new plan would mean prison overcrowding would continue, and new capacity would be filled.
Responding to the prison service’s report, the IRPT said that the prison crisis “is now completely out of control” and the number of prisoners is not only increasing, but that increase is accelerating.
GARDA COMMISSIONER Fachtna Murphy says the gardaí are targetting 15 criminal gangs around the country in their fight against gang-related crime, RTÉ reports.
He said that recent murders had been carried out by a “small core of ruthless killers who are still intent on eliminating their rivals.”
There have been four gangland murders in the past month. Commissioner Murphy said specialist armed gardaí are patrolling the areas of Dublin where those murders took place.
The commissioner said that files on 12 of the gangs are currently with the DPP and gang members are under surveillance.
Minister Dermot Ahern said that the gardaí have been successful at bringing many cases to the DPP, and he hopes substantial cases will be brought before the Special Criminal Court.
The commissioner and the minister were both speaking at the graduation ceremony for 260 newly-qualified gardaí at Templemore in Co Tipperary.
Minister Dermot Ahern has described the decision to cut funding to a victim support group as “difficult”.
Justice for the Forgotten, a group which represents victims of the Troubles, said yesterday that it would have to close down within a month due to funding cuts.
Minister Ahern said the government could now not give it any more financial assistance, but had provided funding for the group since it was set up.
Under the Declaration of Support at the start of the Agreement, the governments of Britain and of Ireland agreed to: “never forget those who have died or been injured, and their families.”
The group was set up in 1996, and is the main liaison between victims and their families, and inquiries into violence that operate in the North, and with garda investigations.
It says it is at a disadvantage regarding funding due to its location because similar groups in the North are being supported by British, EU and US funding.
THE NEW CRIMINAL Procedure Act, which signed by the president today, will allow for re-trials in serious crime cases. The Minister for Justice said the law will take effect immediately and will allow people who have been acquitted to be re-tried in certain situations.
New and compelling evidence must be brought forward before a retrial can be permitted. A retrial is also possible for cases in which the first trial has been affected by perjury or intimidation. Courts would first have to grant an application by the state for an acquittal to be quashed.
The new law, which is not retroactive, also increases the types of cases where a victim impact statement can be read to the court. Until now, only the victim of a crime could make the address, and a victim’s family members had to receive special permission from the presiding judge to do so.
The law also extends the circumstances in which the state can make an appeal in criminal proceedings.
INDEPENDENT TD MICK Wallace is to file a complaint about the Minister for Justice’s use of information on RTÉ’s Prime Time last week.
Alan Shatter said on live television that the Wexford deputy benefited from garda discretion when he was cautioned for using a mobile phone – but not given penalty points. Wallace insists he is not aware of such an incident.
Shatter has stood by his remarks and he has also been backed by the Taoiseach who said that “people can’t have it both ways”. “You cannot be saying no discretion and at the same time availing of discretion.”
Labour Deputy Kevin Humphreys told Newstalk Breakfast this morning that he thought making the remarks was “poor judgement” on the minister’s part. He called on Shatter to explain how he received the information. Others have claimed the information could have been made public in a different manner, and not on live television without giving Wallace prior warning.
In today’s poll, we ask: Should Alan Shatter have made his comments about Mick Wallace on Prime Time?
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