Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 February 2005
118 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the fact that fewer than one in six recorded murders since 1998 in which firearms were used has resulted in court convictions; if he has satisfied himself that the gardaí have adequate resources to deal with the problem of gun crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4929/05]
View answerThe number of violent deaths, murder and manslaughter, recorded in 2004 is 45, the lowest number recorded in ten years, despite our population increasing by 400,000 during the same period. I am informed by the Garda authorities that murders involving the use of firearms tend to have lower conviction rates than other murders. This is not unique to Ireland. The worldwide experience of murders linked to organised criminal activity is that it is exceptionally difficult to bring the perpetrators to justice. However, all murders and violent crime are subject to detailed investigation regardless of the circumstances of how they occurred. Firearms are also often involved where offenders take their own lives subsequent to the commission of a murder. In this regard it should be noted that since 1998 the detection rate where a firearm was used in a murder is 53%.
I have decided to bring forward, on Committee Stage of the Criminal Justice Bill 2004, certain proposals. Second Stage of the Bill commenced in the House this week. In this context, I am looking at a number of proposals, including more severe penalties for firearms offences, set minimum sentences for the most serious offences, the introduction of a new offence of modification of a firearm, for example, the sawing off of a shotgun, and a statutory basis for a period during which firearms may be surrendered to the Garda Síochána.
I am satisfied that the necessary resources are being directed towards the containment and detection of such serious criminal activity. Investigations are undertaken by divisional and district Garda officers at local level. All the necessary national support services are available to supplement these investigations, such as the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
