Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 April 2023
1050. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons deemed to be members of criminal gangs who are currently serving time in prison; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18322/23]
View answerI am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that there are currently 113 prisoners in custody, serving a sentence or awaiting trial, who are associated with known organised criminal gangs.
There is an additional 70-80 prisoners who are associates of these prisoners, but who are not known to be officially aligned to organised gangs, and others who are part of “gangs” in prison who are not known as organised criminal gangs.
These figures exclude the subversive prisoners in Portlaoise Prison.
Membership or allegiance to these criminal groups fluctuates on a continuous basis, with some persons breaking links and others becoming affiliated on a daily basis.
It is also the case that prisoners will not always declare their affiliation to certain groupings, and it is therefore not possible to provide definitive numbers in relation to the number of known members of criminal groupings currently in custody.
It should also be noted that more than one criminal gang may group together under the umbrella of a particular group, and in some instances some gangs may form splinter groups.
