Tipperary homes will be safer as a result of the New Burglary Act – Coonan

Fine Gael TD for Tipperary, Noel Coonan, has said that the new Burglary Act will make Tipperary homes safer and highlights this Government’s commitment to supporting An Garda Síochána.

“The Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald, has announced that the Criminal Justice (Burglary of Dwellings) Act 2015 has now come into operation, meaning that from today bail can be denied to repeat offenders who come before the courts.

“Statistics provided by the Garda Síochána show that 75% of burglaries are committed by 25% of burglars. As a result of this new law bail can be denied and consecutive sentences can be given to repeat burglars. It’s my hope that the act will reduce crime rates in Tipperary and will be a key weapon in the battle against crime.

“This is just one step taken by the Government to support Gardaí in keeping our communities safe. This Government has reopened Templemore after it was closed by Fianna Fáil; €46 million has been allocated for Garda vehicles, many of which will be high-power vehicles for targeted operations; €18 million is being provided for the refurbishment of Garda stations and €205 million has been invested in new technology for An Garda Síochána. This is part of an unprecedented allocation of €875 million in capital funding for the Justice sector.

“The new Burglary Act also provides an important additional layer of support to Gardaí in implementing Operation Thor. These new provisions for tougher sentences and stricter bail for repeat offenders will now be available when persons charged as part of Operation Thor come before the courts. Operation Thor, which was launched in November 2015, is a multi-strand national anti-crime and anti-burglary operation. It involves a broad range of activities to tackle crime, particularly burglaries.

“Home is the place where we should all feel most safe and secure. This is why Minister Fitzgerald is targeting those who commit burglaries. This Bill will help to keep repeat burglars off the streets and to improve the safety of our communities.”