Sinn Féin and Lynn Boylan must commit to voting for renewal of Special Criminal Court – Geoghegan

Sinn Féin and their Dublin Bay South bye-election candidate Lynn Boylan must commit to voting for the renewal of legislation for the Special Criminal Court, Fine Gael Councillor James Geoghegan has said.

Last week, the Cabinet approved the renewal of provisions of the Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009.

Both acts and the Special Criminal Court have served the State well in tackling organised crime and the subversive threat posed by dissident republicans.

Cllr Geoghegan, who is contesting the Dublin Bay South bye-election for Fine Gael, said: “Unless resolutions to renew provisions contained in both of these Acts are passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas before 30 June 2021, the provisions will subsequently cease to operate.

“It is therefore incumbent upon on all parties to support the renewal of the Offences Against the State Act, which will send a strong message to criminals and dissidents that their actions and disregard for the law will not be tolerated by the State.

“Previously, Sinn Féin said it would abolish the Special Criminal Court. Last year, Sinn Féin abstained on a vote to renew the same legislation last year.

“I want to know will Sein Féin representatives and Senator Boylan, the party’s candidate in the Dublin Bay South bye-election, vote for the renewal of this crucial legislation and demonstrate that they are determined to tackle organised crime and criminal gangs?

“When it comes before both the Dáil and Seanad, what will Sinn Féin and Senator Lynn Boylan do? Will they abstain yet again, which undermines the laws in place to keep our citizens and democratic institutions safe.

“If Senator Boylan wishes to be a senior legislator and member of Dáil Eireann, she must show her support for the institutions of the State and do all in her power to protect the public from criminality and the threat of terrorism.

“A vote for the Offences Against the State Acts sends a strong signal to criminals and the dissidents – an abstention does not,” Cllr Geoghegan concluded.