asked the Minister for Justice the number of cases of possession of arms in the last two years in which sentences under three months or suspensory sentences were imposed or the benefit of the Probation of Offenders Act was given.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Arms Possession Cases.
90.
The information asked for would have to be specially compiled from records kept at local level. This could not be done in the time available and in any event I do not consider that I would be justified in asking the Garda to undertake the task at the expense of more important work.
Is the Minister aware of cases recently brought before the courts where armed men were charged but were allowed to go scot free; that even the name of a particular justice was mentioned by the gardaí who were enraged at the fact that such armed men were allowed out under the First Offenders Act? Is he aware of one case in which three men were involved and in which an Englishman who pleaded guilty was sentenced to four years and the other two men, who were found guilty and against whom all evidence was not even produced in court, were allowed to go scot free? Can the Minister stand over the statement that the Attorney-General would prosecute all cases——
Question No. 91.
That does not seem to arise on the question.