Gangs crossed the rubicon now State must stop them

YES, there has been a sea change in the world of ‘gangsterism’ in Ireland over the past two weeks. The Regency Hotel horror, the savage ‘retaliation’ murder of taxi driver Edward Hutch and the untrammelled display of ostentatious wealth on the streets of the capital have shifted people’s perception of organised crime from ‘gangland’ to ‘Mafia’.

Politicians seem to have no bother beating their breasts and handwringing as they issue statements about ‘crime’ but have little to say about the blatant organised demonstration of mysterious wealth and arrogant power that seems to be on constant display in the capital.

And if anyone is under the impression that this is simply a Dublin problem, let them listen to the mothers I have been hearing during the week, who told me time and time again how they were threatened over drug debts run up by their adult children.

In case you think this is all about 161-reg four-wheel drive 4X4s, sunglasses, sharp suits and villas in Spain, remember that the ‘drugs enforcers’ go after the small debts with the same viciousness and fear they apply to all money owed.

After all, if the message does not go out that all money owed will be retrieved come hell or high water, how are these gangsters going to profit from their evil trade?

We are told that there was an emergency crime summit last Sunday night in Garda headquarters in the Phoenix Park with Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Tánaiste Joan Burton, Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald and Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan and her top brass all attending. What came of this meeting?

Does the Government really believe the media, including this newspaper, which have revealed blatant and serious lawbreaking by identifiable criminals, have more resources than the gardaí?

The 2009 Criminal Justice Act gave gardaí massive powers against ‘organised crime’ so why have those powers not been used?

It’s time to get real about organised crime and the drugs trade.

Yes, despite my own reservations, I accept the battle to keep cannabis illegal has been lost. There is now a worldwide trend to ‘decriminalise’ cannabis even among sensible countries such as Canada.

With cannabis now accounting for half of the world’s $300bn drugs trade – and an estimated 250 million users – the easy bit will be decriminalisation of the drug.

The hard work is about what to do next. How should cannabis be regulated, tested, taxed, advertised, retailed and priced?

Its illegality has meant there has been very little research on the long-term effects of the drug. But much of the anecdotal evidence is very worrying.

And I have no doubt that gang- sters will simply move from cannabis to other lucrative substances.

These are people who are not driven by difficult childhoods or deprivation but by greed.

They make choices about the lifestyle they want to lead – and instead of doing what most of us do, which is to work hard – they prey on others and will stop at nothing to maintain their illegal and lucrative trade.

The last fortnight demonstrated we are at a new stage in the history of crime in Ireland.

The State needs to catch up or face the consequences.