Statement by the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O’Callaghan marking the 30th anniversary of the murder of Veronica Guerin

The callous and cowardly murder of Veronica Guerin revulsed and shocked the country 30 years ago today. It was a heinous act.

It was also extremely consequential, as both Veronica’s work and ultimately her murder, led to significant legislative and policing reform.

It motivated a much more aggressive approach by the State in how we confronted organised crime. This resulted in the establishment of the Criminal Assets Bureau under the Criminal Assets Bureau Act 1996 in addition to the enactment of the Proceeds of Crime Act 1996.

An Garda Síochána were also given new surveillance powers and the use of the non-jury Special Criminal Court was expanded to cover gangland crime trials.

The Criminal Assets Bureau’s remit, which continues today, is to target a person's assets, wherever situated, which derive, or are suspected to derive, directly or indirectly, from criminal activity.

For the past 30 years criminal gangs and their revenue streams have been relentlessly pursued and dismantled by CAB. Over those thirty years, CAB has returned more than €220 million to the State and deprived criminal organisations of significant sources of revenue.

Veronica’s legacy can still be seen in how Gardaí confront organised crime today. They are relentlessly pursuing criminal networks, here and across continents, with the same vigour as Veronica pursued the truth in her work. This is leading to a reduction in major crimes and significant prosecutions. The recent sentencing of Sean McGovern and the continued dismantling of the Kinahan organised crime group stand as a testament to that.

So too is the fact that in the last 18 months, there has been no gun-related killings in Ireland.

Veronica Guerin’s sacrifice and legacy will never be forgotten by the State.

Today I am thinking of Veronica’s family and friends.

ENDS...///

Minister O’Callaghan will attend “Truth and Transparency” at the Convention Centre this evening to commemorate the life of Veronica Guerin.

The Proceeds of Crime Bill 2025, currently under scrutiny in the Oireachtas, will make significant changes to the Proceeds of Crime Act and strengthen the ability of Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) to target the proceeds of crime. The Bill will ensure that a Court can take immediate action to ensure a criminal holder immediately loses the benefit of an asset. It will also speed up the process to dispose of an asset for the benefit of the State. The Bill will also see improved information exchange powers between CAB and law enforcement agencies in other jurisdictions.

The Criminal Assets Bureau

The Criminal Assets Bureau CAB is a multi-agency statutory body established under the Criminal Assets Bureau Act, 1996. The Bureau’s remit is to target a person's assets, wherever situated, which derive, or are suspected to derive, directly or indirectly, from criminal conduct.

Reforms to the Proceeds of Crime legislation has already provided for:

• a reduction from seven years to two years from the time between a judicial determination being made that assets are the proceeds of crime and a final disposal order being available in respect of those assets;
• on a judicial determination having been made that assets are the proceeds of crime, the immediate and automatic appointment of a receiver in respect of those assets to ensure that respondents cannot continue to benefit from those assets pending a final disposal order being made, subject to a protection against a risk of injustice;
• to ensure that once a judicial determination has been made that assets are the proceeds of crime, this question is not re-litigated at the point of disposal; respondents will continue to have the ability to appeal such a determination, and during the period prior to disposal to seek to vary or revoke such a determination.
• enhances the restraint of financial accounts and asset detention powers available to CAB during a proceeds of crime investigation.