Liam Herrick

The human rights organisation made the call as the Oireachtas votes this week to renew sections 2 to 4, 6 to 12, 14 and 17 of the Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and section 8 of the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009.

ICCL executive director Liam Herrick said: “The right to a fair trial is the cornerstone of a just and fair society. It includes the right to a trial by a jury of your peers, and the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty.

“These rights are protected by our own Constitution and by international human rights law. But these rights are not respected in the Special Criminal Court.”

Retired judge Mr Justice Michael Peart was appointed in February to chair a six-person group reviewing the legislation in light of criticism on human rights grounds.

The group has been asked to examine all aspects of the legislation, taking into account the current threat posed by domestic and international terrorism and organised crime, and was asked to produce an interim report within three months.

ICCL has welcomed the establishment of the review group and has said it will make “a detailed submission to that process in which we will be calling for the abolition of the Special Criminal Court”.