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COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS IN Dublin’s north inner city are calling for the Government to consider setting up a mini-Criminal Assets Bureau to target drug criminals who may be ‘slipping through the net’ under the current system.
Maureen O’Sullivan, the Independent Dublin Central TD, said she discussed the issue with new Garda Commissioner Noirin O’Sullivan before Christmas — and that she had been receptive to the idea.
CAB was set up in 1996 to target the proceeds of crime, and last year returned €7 million to the Exchequer. Its most recent high-profile transaction involved the sale of John Gilligan’s prized Jessbrook estate in Co Kildare.
The idea of a smaller-scale version of the agency has been raised before — notably by O’Sullivan’s predecessor in Dáil, the late Tony Gregory.
“The problem is kids are seeing middle earning drug dealers amass all this money and not not being touched,” O’Sullivan said.
These smaller dealers are causing massive problems a number of areas.
Journalist Donal MacIntyre, who spent weeks filming in the Sheriff Street area of Dublin recently as part of his ‘Breaking Crime’ series, said his crew witnessed drugs being dealt openly in broad daylight.
“People are scared to voice their objections. They’re scared to label and name and shame some of the serious criminals — and why wouldn’t they be?” MacIntyre said.
These aren’t millionaire, billionaire drug dealers — but they’re very wealthy drug dealers on €100,000 a year or €150,000 a year salaries with plenty of holidays.
“But CAB — the Criminal Assets Bureau — are not interested in those sort of middle-ranking wealthy criminals, they’re much more interested obviously in the very high-profile millionaires.
“Nonetheless, one of the arguments we make in the programme is that by targeting those mid-ranking criminals and their assets you are preventing them from being role models, very disfunctional role models in that community.”
The Sheriff Street area — close to the IFSC and the Point — saw a bloody criminal feud break out eight years ago, and a series of fatal shootings.
While community policing initiatives and the efforts of local groups have led to a huge improvements in recent years, O’Sullivan said there was still a “massive problem” with drug dealing.
“We do know that there has been an increase in visibility over the last year,” the TD said.
The Sheriff Street ‘Breaking Crime’ episode airs on TV3 at 9pm on Monday next.
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My wife and I have five dogs that we rescued. Never mind yawning with you, they would almost talk to ya. Mans best friend – no doubt about it.
Who or what is ‘ya’?
Slang for ‘You’ Allow me to use it in a sentence: “Will ya ever get lost Pauric ya daft tw*t ya”
Fair play. 5 is a lot. They are the best companions you could get. Every home should have one.
Tony, if you were a betting man, what kind of odds would you give that Pauric was the only one that gave you that singular red thumb?
He didn’t even get accidental red thumbs.
Our dog stayed under my mothers bed when she got very sick and he died an hour before she died. Of course the dogs death was not on the top of our priority list, but we knew that he must have had it as hard as we did.
I looked at the picture and read the headline and now I’m yawning like a mad thing.
Me too
So is my dog.
Yaaaaaaaawn
My dog yawns ’cause I’m a boring f*cker.
I have trained a good few dogs over the years and tought it was common knowledge with dog trainers that when a dog yawns at you he is letting you know he wants you to calm down and ease off for a while(with commands, training or play) I always tell kids to leave a dog alone when he yawns.
Interesting study though. That said there is no better companion than a dog. And no better feeling seeing a dog you trained dog in action.
*a dog you trained in action.
Not an expert but I was told if the yawning is out of context or persistent over a short period of time, that means the dog is feeling anxious.
@ Beibhinn.
I would agree.the yawn tells you he/she is a little bit anxious and just wants you to back off. thats why I always say to people( especially kids) to leave a dog alone when he yawns at you. You can tell alot about a dog from its body language.
I have a big interest in dog training, I find it fascinating how they learn & how we can interact with them. I never knew this about the yawning & the connection to anxiety, ill keep that in mind with my two from now on! Thanks!
The best way to learn about dog traning is to observe a bitch with a litter of pups. See how she disciples them and takes no crap from them. Also watch how the pups play together. Just copy there behaviour with regard to rules and discipline(where possible) and you’re on the right road. I learned from my dad and uncles who always had Border Collies.
Once you gain their respect you have a wonderful pet.
Yea ive a nervous German shep and thats what the socialisation trainer told me so, and I have to say when you pay attention to it, it really shows. But I’ve a French Bulldog who is a lazy so an so, and he just yawns coz he is always asleep!! Just a matter of knowing your dogs personality and watching the signs :)
When my dog yawns I yawn.. It’s a vicious circle.
What’s my trying to say when he’s licking his balls ?
What’s my dog trying to tell me when he’s licking mine?
Loves u bit too much
Love works both ways, Stephen. Shall I lick my dog’s balls in reciprocation?
Cute! <3
I’m yawning now
Hey we got our dog to yawn http://youtu.be/Z3kjw1bfQJI
My dog always looks at me when I yawn and then yawns himself.. I thought he was just doing what I was doing since he is my little shadow! This is awesome. I feel loved :)
Dog
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