The Gazette 1996

GAZETTE

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 1996

N E W S

Crusading Solicitor given Key Job in Crime War

There is a touch of The Untouchables' about 'crimebuster' Barry Galvin as recent newspaper profiles in both Ireland and the UK have suggested. The outspoken State Solicitor for Cork has been given a key role in the fight against major crime. The Government has appointed him the Legal Officer of the new Criminal Assets Bureau which is being established by legislation. Introducing the legislation in the Dáil, the Minister for Finance Ruairi Quinn, TD, said that Barry Galvin would be responsible for providing legal expertise to the Bureau. In addition, the Minister continued, it is envisaged that the Legal Officer will "participate fully in the work of the Bureau in formulating strategies, not just to ensure that the criminal assets are successfully tracked and targetted but, equally importantly, to process matters for prosecution by the Director of Public Prosecutions so that legal action to deprive the persons in question of the criminal assets, or deny them the benefit of these assets, will produce the results desired". Barry Galvin has come to national prominence in recent years as a fearless critic of inadequate Government policies on tackling drug trafficking. As State Solicitor for Cork with the responsibility of preparing prosecutions of those apprehended in illegally importing drugs through the many potential landing sites on the West Cork coastline, Mr. Galvin publicly criticised on many occasions the lack of resources available to fight this criminal activity. Speaking at an International Bar Association meeting of criminal lawyers in Dublin earlier this year, he witheringly described the case of the "Keystone Customs" whereby West Cork-based customs officers commandeered a boat to assist them to shadow a suspected drug smuggling yacht but when their boat proved unseaworthy they had to be rescued by the vessel which they had intended to keep under surveillance!

L-r: Mr. Ruairi Quinn, TD, Minister for Finance; Chief Supt. Fachtna Murphy, Head of the Criminal Assets Bureau; Barry Calvin, Solicitor, Legal Officer, Criminal Assets Bureau; Garda Commissioner Pat Byrne; and Mrs. Nora Owen, TD, Minister for Justice.

style of advocacy, when applied to the politics of the solicitor's profession, had enabled him to top the poll year after year in the annual election to the Law Society Council until his retirement from the Council last November. Never afraid to stand up and argue for an unpopular cause if he believed in it, Mr. Galvin was a tireless worker and major contributor to the Law Society Council and its Committees. It is thought that one of the reasons he gave up the Law Society was to devote even more of his energies to his campaign for increased official action to combat crime and lawlessness. The ability and, indeed, the very real courage with which he has pursued this crusade have been admirable. Recognition has come first with his recent appointment to the new Commission which will review the Garda Síochána and now with his appointment as Legal Officer to the Criminal Assets Bureau. The Bureau will comprise Garda, Revenue and Social Welfare officials working as a team in pursuit of criminal assets and the identification, seizure or taxation of those assets as appropriate. Speaking in the Dáil, the Minister for Finance said of the Bill to establish the. Criminal Assets Bureau that, "For too long, many ordinary people, whose

families or community were ravaged by the havoc caused by drug abuse, perceived that known or suspected criminals enjoyed a lifestyle which was not based upon any real job or business. They appear to be untouchable. This Bill will end that. All assets of crime will be capable of confiscation, if they can be proven to be connected, directly or indirectly, to criminal activity". If given the resources Barry Galvin will certainly do the job. •

I R I SH D O C U M E N T E X C H A N G E

O V E R N I G H T - E V E R Y N I G H T E V E R Y W H E R E

Now overnight throughout Ireland- North and South

37 Fcninn Street, Dublin 2 Tel 01 676 4601 Fnx: 01 676 7093 DX I Dublin

Barry Galvin's direct and flamboyant

234