JUSTICE Minister Dermot Ahern doesn't know how many organised crime gangs are operating in the country.

As gangland criminals continue to tighten their grip on Dublin and Limerick, Mr Ahern said that because of the “fluid nature of gangs”, it is impossible for gardai to compile a list of them.

There have been 20 gun murders so far this year, most of which have been linked to gangland activities.

But in reply to a Dail question from Fine Gael's Bernard Durkan, Mr Ahern said it would be impossible to define the number of gangs.

He said there were two categories of organised crime groups some of them very sophisticated.

“The first category consists of individuals and groups that are well established and tightly structured involved in drug trafficking, armed robbery and firearms offences,” Mr Ahern said.

“The second category involves groups whose activities are characterised by less cohesive group structures and criminal activities which are mainly confined to Ireland.”

Information on the gangs is routinely passed on to Europol, as many of the key players are living outside the jurisdiction. Explaining his failure to give details of the number of gangs, Mr Ahern said: “Membership of organised crime gangs tends to be fluid and the nature of criminal activity is such that offences committed by members of gangs may or may not be connected with the individual's membership of such gangs.

Dismantle

“It is not therefore possible to ascertain the precise number of criminal gangs operating in this jurisdiction.”

He added that gardai are using all available legislation, including tough anti-gang laws introduced last year to combat organised crime.

However, very few cases have been brought before the courts, despite the legislation, which allowed for covert surveillance and non-jury trials.

“An Garda Siochana will continue to develop and implement strategies to dismantle and disrupt criminal networks, utilising advanced analytical and intelligence methods to facilitate targeted operations to enable early intervention and prevention of such crimes.”

He continued: “Specific initiatives are regularly undertaken alongside standard policing duties where the responsibility of enforcing all aspects of the criminal law lies with each member of An Garda Siochana.”

There were 20 gangland murders in 2009, 14 in 2008, 16 in 2007, 21 in 2006 and 19 in 2005.

- Kevin Doyle