Non-Jury Trials

The Oireachtas will be asked to renew the legislation underpinning the prosecution of terrorism and organised crime offences in the non-jury Special Criminal Court as the independent review group into its future continues its work. Sections 2 to 4, 6 to 12, 14 and 17 of the Offences against the Stat

Ireland's human rights and equality watchdog has been granted permission to intervene in a criminal appeal concerning fair trial rights in the Special Criminal Court. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission will exercise its amicus curiae function in DPP v. RK and LM, which is coming before t

A working group including lawyers, prosecutors and police is set to be established to identify practical measures to reduce the number of non-jury trials taking place in Northern Ireland. Under the Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Act 2007, the Director of Public Prosecutions can direct that

Mr Justice Michael Peart has been appointed to chair a six-person group reviewing the legislation underpinning the prosecution of terrorism and organised crime offences in the non-jury Special Criminal Court. The former judge, who served on the Court of Appeal from 2014 to 2019 and the High Court fr

Ministers are expected to announce a review of the legislation underpinning the prosecution of terrorism and organised crime offences in the non-jury Special Criminal Court. Justice Minister Helen McEntee is today seeking approval from her Cabinet colleagues for the establishment of a committee to r

Officials have begun a scoping exercise ahead of a review of legislation underpinning the prosecution of terrorism and organised crime offences in the non-jury Special Criminal Court. Justice Minister Helen McEntee yesterday told Senators that she is "fully committed to this review", which was one o

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan has backed a review of legislation underpinning the prosecution of terrorism and organised crime offences in the non-jury Special Criminal Court. Mr Flanagan indicated his support for a review this morning before TDs voted to renew provisions of the Offences against

The non-jury Special Criminal Court may have to stop hearing cases by July if a new government is not formed in time, experts have said. Under section 18 of the Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998, the Oireachtas is required to pass resolutions resolving that the provisions relating to n

A senior judge has said there is no reason why non-jury trials cannot proceed in the Special Criminal Court when many other upcoming court cases have been placed in doubt over the coronavirus crisis. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding in the three-judge court yesterday, was speaking about the upcoming

The brother of a man who spent over a year behind bars in one of Ireland's most notorious miscarriages of justice has called for a new inquiry and a review into the Special Criminal Court. Cormac Breatnach, whose brother Osgur Breatnach was arrested in 1976 in connection with the infamous Sallins tr

A senior judge has said that the second Special Criminal Court will be made "full use of" until it is removed by legislation, following weekend reports of its suspension amid falling case numbers. Presiding judge Mr Justice Tony Hunt made the remarks yesterday in the course of a bail hearing. He sai

The second Special Criminal Court, which was set up in 2016 to tackle a backlog of terrorism and organised crime cases, is set to be wound down. The operation of the second non-jury court will be suspended at the start of 2020, The Irish Times reports, owing to a decline in case numbers.

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan insisted that the Special Criminal Court is compatible with fundamental human rights as he secured Oireachtas approval for its continued operation. The Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998, which underpins the operation of the non-jury court, must be rene