Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 March 2013
168. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will report on Garda Operation Leah; the number of persons arrested and charged to date; the number of successful convictions obtained to date; if this operation is still active; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11813/13]
View answerI am informed by the Garda authorities that Operation Liath was introduced within Donegal Division in January 2013 as an operational strategy to improve public safety and enhance the effectiveness of high visibility police resources within the Division. This operation is running in conjunction with national operations such as Operation Fiacla and other Garda operations in existence to combat criminality within the Donegal Division. The main focus of the operation, which is ongoing, is to disrupt and prevent criminality against older persons within the community, to apprehend suspects in the commission and the attempted commission of offences, and to fully investigate, detect and prosecute any offences outstanding against those suspects and groups. This will be achieved through a focused, targeted and coordinated approach by An Garda Síochána.
The objectives of the operation are being addressed through intelligence led patrols, checkpoints, continued liaison between An Garda Síochána and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), intelligence gathering and the continued support and rejuvenation of Neighbourhood Watch and Community Alert schemes. Local Garda Management closely monitors the allocation of all resources in the context of crime trends, policing needs and other operational strategies in place on a District, Divisional and Regional level, to ensure optimum use is made of Garda resources, and the best possible Garda service is provided to the public. Since the introduction of Operation Liath, 12 persons have been arrested for burglary related incidents and 22 persons have been arrested for theft related incidents in Donegal Garda Division. These matters are currently before the Courts.
