McDowell announces firearms and knives amnesty for autumn

A firearms and offensive weapons amnesty will take place in September and October, the Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, has said.

The timing of the amnesty was revealed yesterday during the official launch of a number of provisions contained in the Criminal Justice Act 2006.

Mr McDowell said new provisions contained in the Act, many of which will be used to tackle gangland crime, would "plug serious gaps" in the State's criminal justice system.

"It will make life more difficult for criminals and will strengthen the hand of the gardaí in their task of enforcing the law of the land," he said.

Among a number of provisions that came into effect yesterday is a new offence of membership of an organised crime gang, or "criminal organisation". It will also be an offence to assist the activities of an organised crime gang.

A new offence relating to supply of drugs to prisons has also been created. Existing provisions relating to mandatory 10-year sentences for drug dealers caught with drugs valued at €13,000 or more have been strengthened.

The Act, which was signed into law by President Mary McAleese two weeks ago, also provides for the first time for mandatory sentencing for firearms offences. Periods of imprisonment of between five and 10 years will apply to a number of offences.

These include possession of a firearm in suspicious circumstances, with criminal intent, with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury to property, while hijacking a vehicle, and use or production of a firearm to resist arrest.

New offences concerning the modification of firearms, such as "sawing-off" a shotgun, have also been created. A range of controls relating to the importation and sale of fireworks will also apply.

The new firearms offences and firearms sentencing regime will not come into effect until November 1st. Mr McDowell said he wanted to allow people currently in possession of illegally held firearms an opportunity to "regularise their position" in coming weeks.

The amnesty is intended to encourage people with firearms, knives and offensive weapons to surrender them to gardaí.

When the new measures come into effect, some firearms of certain calibre and muzzle energy will be classified as "restricted". The owners of such guns will be required to apply to the Garda Commissioner for permission to keep them, rather than to senior officers in their local areas.

Among the measures that come into effect immediately is the power to admit written witness statements in evidence during a trial, even if the witness has withdrawn the statement.

This is intended to ensure statements given by witnesses who are intimidated before a trial starts are entered into evidence.

Fixed-charge penalties have also been introduced for certain public-order offences. A broad range of sentencing options as an alternative to imprisonment have also been introduced, including the power to impose a restriction of movement order.