NI: Sir John Gillen to lead review of serious sex crimes
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The retired Court of Appeal judge Sir John Gillen has been appointed to lead an independent review of the arrangements to deliver justice in serious sexual offence cases.
Sir Gillen previously carried out the judge-led review of Northern Ireland’s civil and family justice systems.
The review has been commissioned by the Criminal Justice Board, which provides oversight of the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland, in the wake of a controversial nine-week rape trial in Belfast which ended with the acquittal of two high-profile rugby players.
Aspects of the trial came under sharp criticism and media coverage highlighted key differences in how rape trials are conducted north and south of the border.
The review begins today and will consider “the law and procedure covering the development and progression of cases of alleged serious sexual offences, taking account of experience from recent cases in Northern Ireland and developments in neighbouring jurisdictions”.
Among the subjects it will examine are:
It is expected that the review will be completed by January 2019.
A similar review has been announced south of the border by Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan, but has not yet begun.
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