Can Labour be trusted to get tough on crime? - Ardagh

Seán Ardagh Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin South Central has today welcomed the news that the new anti-gangland legislation is having an impact and has questioned whether the Labour Party can be trusted to get tough on crime.  

Responding to the news that four people have been charged under the new Criminal Justice Amendment Act 2009, Deputy Ardagh said: “This is clear evidence that the Gardaí have been making full use of the legislation since it was enacted. The Criminal Justice Amendment Act is a groundbreaking piece of legislation which was brought in by Minister Dermot Ahern to tackle ruthless criminals who believe they are above the law.”

Deputy Ardagh said: “Today’s development also provides a timely reminder of the Labour Party’s hypocritical stance on gangland crime. In the aftermath of the murders of Shane Geoghegan and Roy Collins, Labour called for the government to “smash” criminal gangs. The Labour Party’s justice spokesperson, Pat Rabbitte told the Dáil: ‘The people are saying that enough is enough. It is the Government’s duty to put the gangs out of business.’ Yet when it came to the vote on the Criminal Justice Amendment Bill, they refused to support it. This begs the question whether Labour can be trusted to make our streets safer.”

 “Unlike the Labour Party, Fianna Fáil recognises that decisive actions rather than empty words are required to tackle crime,” Deputy Ardagh concluded.