Funds seized from Kinahan and other gangs should be used for anti-crime measures – Richmond

Monies seized by An Garda Síochána, CAB and other state agencies must be used to tackle criminality at source, a Fine Gael TD has said.

Deputy Neale Richmond said: “This year alone, over €16 million has been seized by An Garda Síochána from criminal gangs across the country. This is up from €7.44 million in in 2019 and €7.19 million in 2018.

“These cash seizures are on top of seizures of property and luxury good likes motor bikes, jewellery and artwork that will be sold at auction.

“We are seeing huge success in taking the proceeds of crime, but we need to see these proceeds ploughed back into early intervention services, youth diversion programmes, community policing and addiction services to target criminality at source.

“Having exchanged a series of Parliamentary Questions and letters with both the Minister for Public Expenditure and the Minister for Justice, I would call again for the Minister for Public Expenditure to ring fence seized funds.

“The money is there, it has been seized, let’s put it to work. Rather than allowing the funds disappear into the black hole of the exchequer, let’s ring fence it now and invest that €16 million into a series of three-year programmes in the areas that need it the most.

“€16 million could cover the cost of a lot of resource workers, addiction counsellors or training schemes.

“There would be nothing more appropriate than to bankrupt criminals like the Kinahan gang and use that cash to fund anti-crime measures.”

ENDS