Fianna Fáil General Election candidate for Mayo Cllr. Lisa Chambers has reiterated her party’s support for the Special Criminal Court to protect juries and witnesses and ensure that the rule of law can be enforced in the fight against serious, dissident and organised crime.
Cllr. Chambers, who works as a barrister, has outlined Fianna Fáil’s commitment to deal with the horrific crimes being perpetrated by these career criminals.
“The threat posed by these criminals cannot be underestimated and Fianna Fáil will use the powers of the existing legislation, brought in by the party back in 2009, to try these cases before the Special Criminal Court. This will directly address issues of jury and witness intimidation and ensure that the perpetrators of these heinous crimes are brought to justice. This system worked well in Limerick in the past and should be invoked again.
“The Kieran Keane trial in 2003 reinforces the need for the Special Criminal Court. 729 people were asked to be jury members in Limerick and it was not possible to get twelve to agree to attend such was the level of fear and intimidation in the community.
“The recent high profile murders in Dublin have propelled gangland crime back onto the national agenda. Sinn Fein’s stance on the Special Criminal Court is particularly worrying; we should not be trying to dismantle our legal infrastructure, but rather enhance it.
“Alongside the Special Criminal Court, Fianna Fáil will establish a new Serious and Organised Crime Unit to tackle the scourge of organised, dissident and gangland crime and we will ensure it has the power, finance and political back-up to deliver.”