asked the Minister for Justice if he will state in respect of the past five years (a) the number of robberies in which firearms were used, (b) the number of people arrested for such robberies, (c) the number of people convicted, (d) the sentences passed in each case, (e) the number of people on bail and (f) the length of time each person has been on bail; and what action is being taken by the Government to deal with the increasing number of robberies.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Number of Robberies.
41.
Information in respect of robberies in which firearms were used in the last five years for which figures are available is in the form of a tabular statement, which with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to circulate with the Official Report.
In the time available it was not found possible to ascertain the number of people on bail or the length of time each person has been on bail, but the figures are being compiled by the Garda Síochána. I shall forward them to the Deputy when available.
As for the last part of the Question, the prevention and detection of crime are functions of the Garda Síochána and I do not propose to disclose measures taken by the Garda Síochána in their efforts to combat serious crimes of this nature.
Following is the statement:
|
Year ended 30th September |
Number of robberies in which firearms were used |
Number of people arrested for such robberies |
Number of people convicted for such robberies |
Sentences passed in each case |
|
1966 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
One person, five years penal servitude. |
|
One person bound to the peace for two years. |
||||
|
1967 |
3 |
Nil |
Nil |
None. |
|
1968 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
One person sentenced to two years imprisonment. (One warrant to arrest issued against another person.) |
|
1969 |
12 |
19 |
15 |
Nine persons each sentenced to three years penal servitude. |
|
One person sentenced to four years penal servitude. |
||||
|
Four persons sentenced to two years, 18 months, 15 months and six months imprisonment respectively. |
||||
|
One person fined £10. |
||||
|
One person awaiting trial. |
||||
|
One person awaiting re-trial. |
||||
|
1970 |
17 |
17 |
11 |
One person sentenced to seven years imprisonment. |
|
Five persons sentenced to two years imprisonment. |
||||
|
Three persons sentenced to nine months imprisonment. |
||||
|
One person sentenced to six months imprisonment. |
||||
|
One person given benefit of Probation of Offenders Act. |
||||
|
(Six persons awaiting trial. Two warrants to arrest issued against other persons.) |
Will the Minister not agree that robbery with arms and violence has become all too common in this country in the past few years and that no effort is being made by the Government or the authorities to put it down? Is the Minister not further aware that men who committed serious crimes, crimes of robbery, are on bail for over two and a half years. The Minister talks about this being a matter for the Garda Síochána but the Government themselves have turned a blind eye and have instructed members of the Garda Síochána to turn a blind eye because certain people connected with those robberies were members of an illegal organisation which paraded as a political or semi-political organisation.
Every single thing stated by Deputy L'Estrange in his supplementary question is incorrect. The Garda have the strictest instructions that every type of crime is to be investigated and prosecuted with the full rigour of the law. These are their instructions, they always have been and they always will be.
Is the Minister not aware that an ex-Minister, Deputy Blaney, stated in a speech in Arklow that the Government had given specific instructions to turn a blind eye.
That is untrue.
Is the Minister not further aware that when seven men were found in a house in Donegal in 1969 with arms, explosives and guns even the prosecuting solicitor got instructions and at the Fianna Fáil Ard-Fheis afterwards the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries was thanked for seeing to it that those people were not jailed?
The Deputy is making his speech.
Is the Minister aware that despite the fact that those people were found with arms they were let out under the Probation Act? Is the Minister further aware that a man was found with arms in Dundalk——
These are specific cases.
(Interruptions.)
This does not arise. The Deputy's question is a statistical question. It does not deal with any specific case. If the Deputy wishes to put down separate questions it may be in order.
I have asked what action is being taken by the Government to deal with the increased number of robberies. I want to claim that there is no action being taken by them, that they are allowing them to continue and escalate for political reasons because they are afraid to face up to a certain organisation and that they are not doing their duty.
Order.
Does the Minister not believe that he was appointed Minister for Justice to protect the property, the rights and the freedom of the people of this country and——
This is not in order.
Deputy L'Estrange mentioned a number of court cases which have been completed and in which various penalties were imposed.
No penalties were imposed.
The question of the imposition of a penalty or the question of the conviction or otherwise of a defendant before a court is a matter for the court and for the court alone. Deputy L'Estrange knows that perfectly well. He knows that neither I nor the Government has any responsibility for a decision come to by a district justice or by a jury.
Question No. 42.
Will the Minister not agree that you are even encouraging criminals——
The Deputy has put three supplementary questions and I feel that that is sufficient.
(Interruptions.)
A particular gentleman was allowed out of jail in December of last year and he has committed at least six crimes since then.
Will the Deputy please resume his seat? The Deputy is being deliberately disorderly.
There are other people with guns and they are getting away with bloody murder.
I would not have the Minister baby-sitting.
(Interruptions.)