Case demonstrates need for bail law review – McGrath
Independent TD Mattie McGrath has highlighted the case of a known and prolific burglar who has received bail as indicative of the urgent need for a review of the existing bail laws.
Deputy McGrath was speaking after it was reported today that the individual, a member of the UK Travelling community was released despite having led Gardaí on a high speed chase:
“It is being reported today that this man is guilty of a sustained and prolific campaign of burglaries in the South East.
Yet even with that garda knowledge and objections around flight risk etc, this person was released back to the community.
It demonstrates the utter imbecility at play here and more worryingly still, the fact that rural Ireland is now being seen as a soft touch even by those outside the State.
Whatever the constitutional issues which must be dealt around reforming the bail and legal aid laws, they should be clearly weighted in favour of the victim.
This case shines a very bright light on the appalling fact that this is yet to happen, “ concluded Deputy McGrath.
