A Fianna Fáil Senator has called on the Justice Minister to introduce tougher, mandatory, jail terms for thugs who attack gardaí and other emergency workers.
Senator Ollie Crowe was speaking after a horrific attack in Ballyfermot in Dublin city on Sunday night which saw two garda officers beaten up. The gardai were hospitalised as a result.
Read More: Two men charged with brutal assault on gardaí in Ballyfermot
Two men have been arrested and charged following the incident.
Senator Crowe raised the issue of tougher sentencing for criminals like thes in the Seanad on Wednesday and Junior Justice Minister James Browne replied on behalf of the Government.
Mr Crowe said: “A clear message must be sent out by Government that attackers of first responders will serve significant time in jail.
“The Garda Representative Association (GRA) has called for the introduction of mandatory minimum sentencing to tackle this scourge before it gets out of control altogether.
“I put my support on the record this morning for this proposal.
“Other jurisdictions have already taken this necessary step including Australia where the minimum sentence for anyone convicted of assaulting an emergency worker is seven years with a maximum sentence of 15 years for more serious assaults.
“In the UK, there is a minimum sentence of two years for anyone convicted of assaulting an emergency worker.
“It is time Ireland also took the necessary measures.
“It is time that those who carry out these sickening attacks on our emergency service workers face punishments which reflect the seriousness of their offences.”
Minister Browne said in response that those charged with assaulting gardaí and emergency workers can be hit with heavy prison sentences.
He said they can carry sentences up to life imprisonment, adding that those found guilty of assault causing harm will soon see the maximum jail term for this offence double from five to ten years in new legislation.
Mr Browne told the Seanad: “ It is vital that emergency service workers are sufficiently protected in carrying out their work and that the law reflects and responds to the situations in which they find themselves.
“I assure the Senator a range of robust legislative provisions are available to the Garda authorities in circumstances where threats or assaults are made against gardaí.
“Such offences carry a maximum sentence of seven years in prison under section 19 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994.
“I note that this penalty was increased from a maximum of five years in prison in 2006.
“The 1994 Act also provides for an offence of violent disorder which may be committed depending on the circumstances and carries a maximum penalty under the 1994 Act of ten years in prison.”
He added: “The Government will not hesitate in taking further appropriate actions to protect gardaí and other emergency service workers.”
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