Earlier this afternoon I described 1995 as the year of the criminal. Until recently the State averaged approximately 20 murders per year and, while that was desperately tragic, criminologists considered it typical relative to the size of the population. The bulk of those crimes were rural crimes of passion or linked to fueds over land and families. In 1994 the number of murders was approximately 25 but so far this year the number of violent deaths had increased to 40.
It is fair to say that 1995 — the year of the criminal — has been marked by the emergence of gangland murders. It would appear that a more professional job is becoming the norm and that many murders are committed as a result of rows between criminals over drugs or territories. Tragically, it is now a fact of life — a fact of Dublin underworld life — that criminals are settling petty fueds by murdering people.
The Garda are reported as being confident that they can tackle this dreadful problem and they must do so if they are to retain public confidence. In the year of the criminal they need legislative back up, but this is not forthcoming from the rainbow coalition Government. It is patently obvious that a radical legislative and tactical approach is required to deal with gangs, mobsters and gangsters. The time has come, like it or not, for the Minister for Justice to deliver on the promise she made last March of a referendum on bail so that an individual who is likely to commit a further crime while on bail can be refused bail for that reason alone. It is obvious that thousands of crimes are being committed by people on bail. Thousands of people on temporary release, many of whom are habitual criminals, stalk the streets of this city and country committing further serious criminal offences. It is evident to everyone that the reign of the rainbow coalition Government in 1995 will be marked, not merely by the emergence of gangland murderers, but also by the disgraceful decision taken by the Cabinet, in the absence of the Minister for Justice, to cancel a planned prison for Castlerea, County Roscommon, and a 60 place prison for women at Mountjoy.
It is obvious that current criminal law is no longer sufficient to take on the emerging sophisticated structures of the gangs about whom I am speaking. Garda representatives and experts in the field of criminal law strongly believe that in certain serious cases, such as drug trafficking, the suspects's right to silence should be modified.
On behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party, I call for tougher penalties for drug criminals who use guns. It must be noted that our society has changed considerably for the worse in so far as crime is concerned. Eighty per cent of crime is drug related. The latest Health Research Board figures show that the rate of first time drug users is increasing rapidly and there will be a corresponding increase in desperate despicable crime.
There is a significant reservoir of arms available for hire or purchase in this city and country and those guns are often held illegally. In so far as they are legally purchased, the time has come for ballistic testing of all firearms sold in the State and such information should be made available to the Garda Technical Bureau who would be in a position, when a crime is committed, to ascertain where the gun was legaly held, irrespective of whether it was used in an offence.
Since the Minister for Justice refuses to listen, I strongly urge the Minister of State to introduce the necessary measures to halt what can only be described as murderous atrocities.
