Pubdate: Sun, 20 June 1999 Source: Sunday Independent (Ireland) Copyright: Independent Newspapers (Ireland) Ltd Contact: http://www.independent.ie/ Author: Pat Byrne, Garda Commissioner TAKING UP THE CRIMINALS' CHALLENGE TO DEMOCRACY Garda Commissioner Pat Byrne Looks At The State Of Organised Crime In Ireland Today I was appointed Commissioner a few weeks after the murder of Veronica Guerin. Her killing was a direct challenge to democracy and demonstrated how daring the criminal fraternity had become. Garda management was determined to commit the necessary resources to the investigation of her death and not to give up until her killers were found. In parallel with these efforts, it was obvious that it was going to be extremely difficult if not impossible to get evidence against the "godfathers" of organised crime. These people, who regarded themselves as the "untouchables", were not involved in the front line of crime but as background organisers who reaped the profits. They had to be pursued. The Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) was to play a major part in the confiscation of the proceeds of crime. Legal powers, in relation to money laundering and the reporting of suspicious transactions by financial institutions, established where to begin an investigation and where evidence could be obtained. A key factor for success was establishing the CAB under the umbrella of An Garda Siochana. Organised crime was not a totally new problem, but it had become more globalised, with intense involvement in drug trafficking, cross-border vehicle theft and money laundering. In order to trace international criminals and their assets, more international co-operation between police forces was needed. Garda Liaison Officers work permanently at The Hague, Madrid and Lyons. Special memoranda on co-operation were signed with Russia, Egypt and Hungary, and we are nowdiscussing the possible benefits of co-operation with countries who have applied for membership of the EU. Where a policing need had to be met, specialist sections were either set up or expanded to meet requirements the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation; the Criminal Assets Bureau; the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation; surveillance units (including air support); and others, such as the Garda National Drugs Unit, played a major part in investigations at home, often extending overseas. It is impossible to realise how hard personnel attached to these units, both gardai and other State agency personnel, worked over the past few years to achieve success against organised crime. Resources of the force have been stretched to the limit often with a loss to general policing duties. Success in the future depends on how we can deal with both organised crime and all other demands arising. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D