Working Class Action
WCA Press Release on Drugs Sentencing
18th November 2002
10 year drugs law must be enforced
Working Class Action (WCA) have condemned a call by Labour’s Justice spokesperson, Joe Costello, for the abolition of the ten year mandatory sentence for large scale drug possession.
WCA members, many of whom have been active in the anti-drugs movement for years, have consistently called for the use of this existing but underused legislation.
Introduced in 1999, this law states that there should be a ten year mandatory sentence for possessing drugs worth over £10,000 (12,697euro). Since then the judiciary has consistently failed to enforce this.
Incredibly figures released last week show that out of 130 applicable cases, only five have received this sentence. Bizarrely, rather than target the judiciary for its failure, Joe Costello favours abolishing this law.
A Working Class Action spokesperson, Aodhan Perry, said "The judiciary are geographically and socially removed from the effects of the drugs crisis. Their decisions often reflect this, being ignorant and insensitive towards the affected communities."
Joe Costello is correct in stating that by ignoring this law judges are themselves "breaking the laws of the land." However, his solution rewards them for this and actually sets them above the law. Instead the Labour Party should be doing everything in its power to ensure these judges carry out their duty fully. Indeed it is the obligation of all political representatives to pursue this. The ultimate responsibility lies with the Minister for Justice.
Joe Costello’s constituency contains the country’s worst hit drugs blackspot. He has seen at first hand the devastation and misery heroin and other drugs have caused. He has also seen the wealth and lavish lifestyles that drug money has brought to the greedy pushers. So, too, have impressionable young people living in this area, surely Joe Costello - and any right thinking person - must see that properly enforced heavy sentences could act as a deterrent.
Mr Perry continued:
"The call to abolish this law will undoubtedly be welcomed - by drug pushers and their supporters. It will however be seen as a stab in the back by long suffering working class communities."
Working Class Action calls for the full enforcement of the existing ten year mandatory drug sentence, this demand has formed part of our submission to the National Crime Council.
[ENDS]
More information from:
Ph. 087- 9620940
Email: workingclassaction@eircom.net
Back to News Page