Money seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) should be "ring-fenced" to fund the extension of the Dublin Drug Court to all parts of the capital, Fine Gael's spokesman on community affairs, Mr Fergus O'Dowd, has said. Joe Humphreys reports.
Speaking after yesterday's announcement by the court that it is to extend its operations for a further six months and to a wider geographical area, Mr O'Dowd said "by allocating some of the millions of euros seized by the CAB to the Drug Court, the Government should be able to extend the court's coverage to all of Dublin and perhaps beyond".
Some €16 million in assets has been seized by the CAB since 1996. Instead of being absorbed by the Exchequer, some should be invested in the court, which had "proved its worth by encouraging offenders to avail of rehabilitation services and to retrain for employment", said Mr O'Dowd.
Two participants in the Drug Court programme "graduated" yesterday, bringing to six the number to achieve a drug-free and crime-free lifestyle since the scheme was launched in January 2001.
Identified only as Michael and George, both were drug-users for more than 20 years. Judge Gerard Haughton praised them for completing the programme. While charges against graduates are struck out, the State can re-enter them if they commit an offence, go back on drugs or fail to maintain contact with a rehabilitation officer.