Anniversary of gangland atrocity

TODAY marks the first anniversary of one of the most shocking events ever related to gangland culture in Ireland, a culture which has existed in Dublin, in particular, for several generations and has thrived to varying degrees at different times down the decades, extending its reach into other parts of the country. Gangland culture is not confined to Ireland, of course, but exists in many if not most developed countries worldwide, wherever the correlation between the illicit drug trade and crime has developed.

This day last year gangland figures armed with AK47s and dressed in mock Garda tactical uniforms stormed a hotel in broad daylight, opened fire and murdered a man, in the process sparking what is referred to as a ‘feud’, but which is out-and-out warfare, that has claimed the lives of many since, including people with no association at all with gangland crime, other than to have been in the wrong place at the wrong time, or to have spoken to the wrong person.

Law enforcement professionals worldwide have shown supreme dedication and face risks daily to defend citizens against such criminal activity, yet gangland culture continues to evolve with ever more degrees of sophistication and brutality. The mutual relationship between illicit drugs and crime is at the core of the problem. The gardai here, with their counterparts internationally, strive to contend with this issue by both enforcing the laws against drug use and also by disrupting supply. It is a never-ending battle, interrupted by occasional successes, before the many-headed serpent evolves and resumes as before.

It is truly a Herculean task that confronts the gardai, but one that they are often forced to tackle with a hand tied behind their back. To most effectively use the power of law enforcement, certain basics are required: international co-ordination and intelligence sharing, the use of better technology, equitable sentencing policies, and a focus on criminal targets that cause the nation most damage. These tenets of law enforcement have not always been available to the gardai, although to give the Government its due, a more sustained and properly resourced effort has been belatedly undertaken since those shocking events which took place at the Regency Hotel in Dublin last year.

The Kinahan and Hutch ‘feud’ has corroded communities with fear, violence and corruption, in some cases leaving residents afraid to go out of their homes, causing legitimate businesses to flee, and the quality of life to suffer for many ordinary, decent people. The outcome of the ‘feud’ to date has been one-sided, although the truth is that there are no innocent parties on either side at the centre of what has been a reprehensible display of death and destruction.

Community support is also critical to the success of law enforcement. When people lose confidence in the fairness and logic of the law, law enforcement efforts can suffer. In recent weeks, the gardai have had some success: there have been significant seizures of drugs and cash, and also of weapons, and arrests have been made. There may be an element of public relations management associated with some of these developments as the anniversary approached, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. The community needs to be made aware of developments, however relatively small they may be when placed alongside the scale of the international operation against which the gardai are pitted.

At a broader level, however, it must be underwritten that Ireland and the wider European community is based on a rule of law designed to ensure the safety and security of all people. Indeed, the central figure in the events of the past year, Christopher Kinahan, is reputed to operate at an international level, across several continents. Therefore, it follows that it will require a co-ordinated international effort to take him down. Drugs and crime are among this country’s most pressing social problems. Kinahan and his like have placed a tremendous burden on the economic and social conditions of our communities. The Garda investigation into his affairs will continue and is wished every success.