Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 63: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of cases of murder in which firearms were used in respect of each year from 1998 to date in 2007; the number of such cases in which prosecutions for murder were initiated; the number of such cases where convictions were secured; if he is satisfied with the level of detection and conviction in such cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34533/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the table shows the numbers of cases of murder recorded in which firearms were used, proceedings commenced and convictions secured in each year from 1998 to 2006 and in 2007 up to 9 December. Figures provided for 2007 are provisional, operational and liable to change. It should be noted that for specific cases proceedings commence and convictions are obtained on a continuing basis.

All killings, regardless of the persons or the circumstances involved, are the subject of a rigorous investigation by An Garda Síochána. The identification of the motive and the evidence available to support that identification are key elements of the investigation and prosecution process. On completion of such investigations an investigation file is forwarded to the Law Officers who direct what charges, if any, are to be preferred. It is then a matter for the courts to decide on a person's guilt or innocence.

An Garda Síochána recently introduced a package of crime investigation initiatives, which include:

the establishment of a Crime Training Faculty at the Garda College, Templemore, to provide a professional and comprehensive training programme for those charged with management of serious crime investigations;

Senior Investigating Officers, to take charge of serious crime investigations;

Incident Room Co-ordinators, to manage serious crime investigation incident rooms;

Specialist Victim Interviewers, for the interviewing of persons under 14 years of age, with special needs or victims of sexual crime;

Forensic Collision Investigators, to investigate road traffic collisions, primarily those involving fatalities;

The development of a Major Investigation Management System, to provide a PULSE-based management system for all serious investigations;

The introduction of pre-screening and competency based interviewing for the selection of personnel for the positions of Detective Garda and Detective Sergeant;

The appointment of 21 Detective Inspectors, allocated on the basis one per District in the Dublin Metropolitan Region and one per Division outside of the DMR;

The appointment of additional Detective Superintendents, one per District in the Dublin Metropolitan Region and one per Region outside of the DMR.

The establishment of a Serious Crime Review Team, to review "cold cases".

This initiative will add significantly to the investigative capacities of the Gardaí. The number of murders recorded in which a firearm was used, proceedings commenced and convictions for the years 1998 to 2006 and in 2007 up to 9 December