SF sets out alternative to Special Criminal Court

Sinn Féin has outlined procedures for protecting jurors in sensitive cases as an alternative to the continued operation of the juryless Special Criminal Court.

Jobs spokesman Peadar Tóibín, speaking at an event in Sinn Féin’s Dublin offices, said there were international examples that Ireland could follow, the Irish Independent reports.

He said: “There are examples whereby juries can be sequestered into another room, be anonymous in scenarios where there are court cases happening.

“It is possible to have a court case in one city where anonymous juries are then brought to a room in a different city where they overlook court cases as well.”

He added: “It is possible and reasonable that citizens who live in a democratic society have a right to a jury court.

“A non-jury court is a significant reduction in those rights and it is not just us who is saying this – it is the UN commission on human rights, Irish Council of Civil Liberties, Amnesty International and politicians from a number of different political parties.

“It is possible to protect juries. We want to see normal democratic rights upheld and everybody’s democratic rights upheld.”