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Minister hails gardaí for bringing dissidents to justice

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan. Photo: Tom Burke Expand

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Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan. Photo: Tom Burke

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan. Photo: Tom Burke

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan. Photo: Tom Burke

Tom Brady Email

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan has said the number of suspects currently before the two Special Criminal Courts reflected the work being carried out by gardaí in the fight against terrorism.

He described dissident republicans as posing the greatest threat to the security of the State and he said he was pleased that the second Special Criminal Court had been set up, noting that the two courts had enough business to keep them busy until the spring.

Mr Flanagan praised the recent successes of the Garda units and said these had culminated in significant convictions in the courts.

Asked if An Garda Síochána had sufficient armed units, the minister said about 10pc of the force could carry guns and that seemed about right to him.

He also said that it was a matter for Fianna Fáil TD Éamon Ó Cuív to say whether or not he should have written a letter about dissident republican Séamus McGrane, who was convicted of directing terrorism last week, suggesting that McGrane was supportive of the peace process.

A letter in Mr Ó Cuív's name was used in McGrane's defence. It said Mr Ó Cuív was of the opinion that McGrane was "fully supportive" of the TD's efforts to advance the peace process.

Mr Ó Cuív later said that the statement had been sent in draft format to McGrane's solicitor. He insisted he had not been aware until Thursday that it would be used in the court case.

He later said: "It was absolutely not a character reference for Séamus McGrane. I have only met Mr McGrane once."

Mr Flanagan said that he believed Mr Ó Cuív's decision to write the letter had been extremely unwise and misguided.

He told Friday's passing-out ceremony of 211 gardaí from the training college in Templemore that being a member of the force required courage on a daily basis.

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Gardaí, said the Justice Minister, sometimes had to put themselves in the way of harm in order to defend others and to comfort people who were vulnerable or distressed.

Mr Flanagan said the strength of the force would reach around 13,500 by the end of the year, up by 500 from last year, and that this growth represented real progress on the road to reaching a Government target of 15,000 - with a further 2,000 reservists and 4,000 civilians - by 2021.

He believed that there was now a need for change and a willingness to embrace change within the force.

Irish Independent

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