Criminals caught using children to move drugs and cash need to face a maximum sentence of 10 years, Sinn Fein have said.
The Cabinet approved a Bill that allows for a maximum sentence of five years for those using a minor to conduct criminality on their behalf yesterday. Children as young as 12 are groomed by gangs across the city and are often used to transport drugs or cash.
The kids are typically from an impoverished area and see it as a way of getting out of poverty. When the kids are caught by the gardai and the drugs or cash is confiscated, the parents are targeted by the gangs to foot the bill.
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Sinn Fein TD Mark Ward told Dublin Live tougher sentencing is needed. He said: "These career criminals would see young people as way of moving and transporting drugs.
"It also keeps the older more experiences criminals away from street dealing and the movement of drugs. It allows them to isolate themselves - they are quite clever.
"Unfortunately, young people can see this as a way to escape the poverty in their area. They may see it as a way to get the flash runners and to have the nice jackets but unfortunately, all it does do is lead them into a life of crime and there is no winning that."
He added: "It's right across Dublin and it is not even unique to Dublin so I would be talking to my colleagues - it is in rural areas and in urban areas. It is not just working class parts of Dublin.
"We need to send a message out to these unscrupulous criminals that are targeting our young people and grooming them into a life of crime that we are not taking this anymore. We need to make sure they stop engaging with young people."
Shockingly, children as young as 12 are targeted by criminals and parents can end up in debt if their kids are caught by the gardai. Deputy Ward said: "Anecdotally, there are kids from the age of 12 up that are getting involved in it.
"If these kids are caught with drugs or cash and it is confiscated then these unscrupulous dealers will target the kid's parents and demand that the money is paid back. And it is not just the money for the drugs, they are putting a premium on it as well.
"These parents are getting themselves in an awful lot of debt over it. "
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