Subj: Ireland: Tougher sentencing for drug offences to be in force by end of year



Date: Friday, November 6, 1998



Source:    Irish Times





Tougher sentencing for drug offences to be in force by end of year

By Jim Cusack, Security Correspondent



The minimum 10-year sentence for possession of drugs with

a value of IEP10,000 will be in force by the end of this year, the

Minister for Justice has stated.



Combined with existing laws which allow the State to seize

criminals' assets and the prolonged detention of suspects, the

new 10-year minimum sentence provision will give the

Republic some of the most far-reaching anti-drugs powers in

Europe.



Mr O'Donoghue gave the commitment on the new legislation

at the Garda College in Templemore, Co Tipperary,

yesterday when he announced that the Government had

agreed to recruit an additional 550 gardai, in keeping with its

Programme for Government commitment to a force strength

of 12,000. It is currently just over 11,000.



The Minister told the 155 gardai graduating from the

Templemore Garda College in Templemore, Co Tipperary,

yesterday that the elimination of the drugs scourge remained a

Government priority.



"For my part," he said, "I am pleased to be able to tell you

that before this year is out, I expect that the law which will

hand down minimum mandatory jail sentences of 10 years for

those convicted of dealing in drugs to the value of IEP10,000 or

more will be in force.



"This is a severe penalty but I apologise to no one for

introducing it as I believe that this measure is warranted and

justified.



"Some people attempted to persuade me to water it down or

to distinguish between so-called soft or recreational drugs

and hard drugs. As long as I am in the Justice portfolio there

will be no watering down or fallacious distinction between

so-called soft and hard drugs in our policies to put the drug

dealers out of business," he said.



Mr O'Donoghue paid tribute to the work of the Garda

National Drugs Unit (GNDU) which, under Chief Supt Ted

Murphy, seized more than IEP70 million pounds worth of drugs

during the past year.



It is estimated that almost half the year's total value of

seizures occurred in October when more than IEP30 million

pounds worth of drugs were seized.



"We are all aware of the havoc and distress which drugs

cause to families who see their children falling prey to those

who seek to profit by causing misery to others.



"The Garda Siochana is in the forefront of the unrelenting

pursuit of these evil merchants. While there is a mountain yet

to climb, the force has had it successes in this respect in the

past year.



"Neither I, as the Minister, nor the Government will be found

wanting in playing our part or supporting you in maximising

the State's response to crime," Mr O'Donoghue added.



At yesterday's ceremony, 29 women and 126 men graduated

from the college. The best all-round student award went to

Garda Maeve Hourigan, of Dromkeen, Co Limerick. Garda

Mark Allen, of Kilsheelan, Co Tipperary, achieved the best

aggregate marks and Garda Leo Kiernan, from Athlone, Co

Westmeath, won the award for outstanding achievement and

appreciation in the area of social sciences.



The Minister told the new gardai that the "breaking down and

questioning of authority" which he said was an "increasing

feature, particularly with the young", would make the job of

garda more difficult and demanding.



"It means you must work hard to win the support and trust of

the community. It is very important in this regard to always be

cognisant of the rights and the dignity of each individual and

to treat people fairly and impartially," he added.



He pointed out that the force had brought about a 10 per

cent decrease in crime last year and this trend was continuing.