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Dáil
‹ Questions on Promised Legislation

Bail law and murders

Summary

Deputy Breathnach links recent murders in Louth to concerns about people on bail and cites the programme for Government commitment on crime prevention. The Tánaiste says a criminal justice Act on bail law was passed last year and will ask the Minister for Justice to reply.

On page 96 of the programme for Government, under crime prevention and justice and equality, there is a commitment to protect all of our citizens and to reduce the incidence of crime. The most recent brutal killing of Cameron Reilly by way of strangulation and kicking to death has left the community of Dunleer in my constituency in shock as did the earlier murder in Dundalk of Yosuke Sasaki from Japan. When those murders were carried out, there were two people walking the streets of Dundalk who had previously been charged with murder and released on bail. Coupled with the murders of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe and Garda Tony Golden in my own constituency, does the Tánaiste accept there is a major need to overhaul our bail laws? The perpetration of crime by persons on bail and sentencing issues must be addressed. I am not speaking on behalf of people in my constituency alone. People across the country want the Dáil to deal with this issue. The punishment or deterrent does not match the crime.

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Simon Coveney The Tánaiste Fine Gael

There was a criminal justice Act dealing with bail law last year. I will certainly ask the Minister for Justice and Equality to get back to the Deputy on the question he asks.

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