The last of three outreach events hosted by Sir John Gillen, a retired Court of Appeal judge, took place at Queen’s University Belfast on Tuesday and was attended by over 80 members of the public.

The consultation period remains open until tomorrow, Friday 18 January 2019.

Sir John’s final report, which was commissioned last April in the wake of a controversial nine-week rape trial in Belfast which ended with the acquittal of two high-profile rugby players, is expected to be presented to the Criminal Justice Board in March.

His preliminary report made 220 draft recommendations, including the provision of publicly-funded legal advice to complainants and restricted public access to trials.

His team made contact with over 200 individuals and organisations, including complainants, former defendants after acquittal, statutory and voluntary organisations, judges and legal professionals, to heard first-hand evidence.

The two-part report drew on the experiences of 15 other countries and various jurisdictions across Europe (including Ireland), the US, Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.