Minister for Justice Michael McDowell has expressed disquiet at the way bail laws are being interpreted by the courts. He said some gardaí were frustrated that their testimony "did not count" when judges granted bail.
"On a number of occasions, unfortunately, An Garda Síochána have found themselves in a position that serious players in the Dublin drugs world have been granted bail in circumstances where they have opposed the granting of bail and that has caused them some frustration."
Mr McDowell said one recent murder victim who was granted bail "in the teeth of Garda opposition" was later killed. Sé Bradley was found dead in a laneway off Blackhorse Avenue in the north inner city last month. He was on bail after being charged in connection with the shooting of an innocent man in a botched gangland murder attempt.
Mr McDowell pointed to the passing of the 1996 referendum that restricted the right to bail.
"The people went to the ballot boxes and changed the law to make it stronger, and I do believe it is the case that the criminal justice system must respond to that change," he said.
We all live in a Constitutional democracy, he added, "and when the people say that's to be the law it applies to everybody, whether it's Ministers, gardaí, judges, whatever".
Meanwhile he said he was still awaiting a report from the Garda Commissioner on the background to the riots at the Love Ulster parade in February.
"No one should ever forget what those rioters actually did in their follow-up violence.
"They went into shops, pulled out non-nationals and beat them up on the street. That kind of thuggery is hugely to be deplored."
