Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

The issue of alternatives was considered and we received advice from the Garda. However, the alternatives are impractical in a country the size of Ireland because these gangs have tentacles in different parts of the country and that has been proven in some high profile cases. Alternatives related to jury intimidation are not possible because of the size of the country. They work well in countries such as the USA where people can remain anonymous in a large country but not in a country such as Ireland.

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