Pubdate: Tue, 02 Jan 2007
Source: Evening Echo (Ireland)
Copyright: 2007 Evening Echo
Contact:  http://www.eveningecho.ie/home.asp
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4292

OPPOSITION SCEPTICAL ABOUT PRISON UNITS FOR DRUG BARONS

Opposition parties are expressing scepticism about a  government plan
to set up special prison units for  gangland criminals.

Reports this morning say Minister for Justice Michael  McDowell has
already approved a plan to keep people  involved in the drugs trade in
special isolation units  separate from the regular prison population.

The aim is to stop them orchestrating their illegal  trade from behind
bars.

Labour TD Brendan Howlin says it appears a tough line  is finally
being taken against crime gangs, but more  detail is needed to assess
if the plan will have any  real effect.

"We need to see specifics about what is proposed, how  will this be
implemented, to whom will it apply and how  extensively across the
prison system it is going to be  implemented," he says.

Fine Gael TD Jim O'Keefe, meanwhile, has described this  morning's
publicity for the plan as a PR exercise by  Minister McDowell.

He said such measures should have been introduced years  ago when it
was known that major drug dealers were  continuing to do business from
their cells. 
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MAP posted-by: Steve Heath