Sinn Fein’s Pearse Doherty has pleaded that the state must develop the correct infrastructure to tackle white collar crime.
Speaking after the Seán Fitzpatrick trial today, Doherty said that the state has never prioritised white collar crime instead preferring to go after well fare fraud.
“Those bodies are simply not up to the task. The legislative framework is in need of an overhaul to bring it up to what is needed, for example reckless lending is still not a crime in this State. The culture and infrastructure needed to tackle white collar crime has never been developed in this State.”
“That is a damning indictment of the state from someone who specialises in white collar crime.”
“It is clear that the state prioritises tackling welfare fraud over tackling white collar crime despite the fact that white collar crime is a far bigger issue and costs the state far more each ear.”
“As long as we continue to under resource and under prioritise this type of criminal activity cases will continue to be thrown out before they even get to a jury and that is if they even reach the courts,” concluded Doherty.
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