The use of special ‘gangland’ laws has quadrupled over the last two years, with human traffickers and serious fraudsters joining drug traffickers and killers as targets of gardaí. Official figures show the powers were used 104 times in the last year, compared to 24 occasions two years ago. Garda bosses told the Irish Examiner that the legislation — the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 — has proven to be “particularly effective” in disrupting and dismantling organised crime groups. Assistant Commissioner John O’Driscoll, head of Special Crime Operations, said: “The Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 provides for additional measures with respect to combating organised crime. The offence of directing under Section 71A includes controlling or supervising the activities of a criminal organisation or giving an order or instruction or guidance, and can be at “any level” of the organisation’s structure.

Source: Irish Examiner July 13, 2021 05:26 UTC