merrion street

· Government commits to continue to provide all necessary resources including extensive overtime

· “We will not let the safety and good name of our Capital City be dragged down by the violence and thuggery of these gangs” - Fitzgerald
29th April, 2016

An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD and Frances Fitzgerald TD, Minister for Justice & Equality, have today met with senior officers of An Garda Síochána. The Taoiseach and the Minister were briefed on the significant progress being made in investigations into recent gang-related murders in the Dublin region.

The Taoiseach and the Minister were briefed on current policing operations in Dublin including those involving armed units. These include a range of responses from visible policing, the use of armed checkpoints and targeted and intelligence based operations; all aimed at disrupting and preventing incidents, as well as detecting and prosecuting those involved. They were also briefed on the progress being made in establishing an additional, dedicated Armed Support unit for Dublin which she first announced plans for in February.

Minister Fitzgerald stated: “The recent cycle of gang violence is shocking and disturbing. The loss of life, including the life of those who played no part in gang related feuds, is intolerable.

“We will not let the safety and good name of our Capital City be dragged down by the violence and thuggery of these gangs.”

“I have assured An Garda Síochána that they have the full support of the Government in their efforts to disrupt gang-related crime and they will continue to access all resources necessary, including extensive overtime, to support them in delivering concentrated visible policing measures to tackle gang-related crime. This is in addition to the intensive programme of Garda recruitment now under way.”

The Minister added: “There is absolutely no question of any reduction in the resources or overtime being made available to Gardaí to counteract gang-related crime.”

The Minister concluded: “Recent appalling events should not cause us to lose sight of the fact that An Garda Síochána have in the past successfully faced-down gangs who believed they were above the law. Nor should we underestimate the difficulties they face in counteracting the activities of members of gangs determined to kill each other in a cycle of vicious and mindless violence. But, however long it takes, and whatever resources are necessary, the State will take all measures open to it to bear down on the deadly activities of gangs.”

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