Rival proposals to allow identification of child killers

The Court of Appeal last week held that the Children Act 2001 prevents the identification of a deceased child in criminal proceedings for an offence against the child.

Fianna Fáil TD Jim O’Callaghan and Independent Senator Michael McDowell, both of whom are barristers, have now promised to bring forward legislation addressing this, the Irish Independent reports.

Mr O’Callaghan said his bill would amend the 2001 Act to exclude deceased children from restrictions on identifying children in reports or proceedings.

Senator McDowell’s bill would be similar but would also allow a court to permit the identification of an accused or convicted person in respect of non-fatal offences against children where it is in the public interest to do so.