Criminal Justice System Being Stood on its Head

By Joe Higgins, Socialist Party TD

SEVEN COMPLIANT Taxpayers Languish in Jail Over Peaceful Anti Bin Tax Protests While:

* Vicious Murders Continue
* Minister Blackmails Prison Officers With Privatisation and Closure of Prisons

Under the stewardship of the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and the Minister for Justice Michael McDowell, the State’s criminal justice system is being stood on its head.

We have details this morning of another vicious murder in Blanchardstown. We have the Minister for Justice blackmailing prison officers by threatening to close prisons and privatise elements of the service.

At the same time, seven decent residents of South Dublin languish in Mountjoy and Wheatfield jails, having also been hit by fines of €1,500 each. Their “crime” was to be part of a peaceful protest against the attempts by South Dublin County Council to punish thousands of fellow taxpayers in South Dublin who are boycotting the bin tax by leaving their refuse uncollected.

The arrogance of this Government and the breath-taking double standards that permeate the political establishment are causing increasing anger among ordinary people and will find a major expression in the Local and European Elections which will shortly come into view.

For further information contact Joe Higgins TD at (01) 618 3038