Ireland’s leading rights watchdog, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) has said that the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009 published by the Minister for Justice today (30 June 2009) “tramples on the rule of law”.
Speaking shortly after the Bill was published, ICCL Director Mr Mark Kelly said:
“The ICCL condemns the activities of gangland criminals in the strongest possible terms ; however, respecting fair criminal justice procedures when responding to crime is the hallmark of a civilised and democratic state. The measures proposed by Dermot Ahern today, including secret detention hearings and detention on the unsupported word of a single low-ranking Guard, trample upon the rule of law.”
“If this Bill were to be enacted in this form, the lawful basis for the administration of justice in Ireland would be gravely undermined”, he added.
Mr Mark Kelly, Director of the ICCL is available for interview and further comment between 4.15 and 4.45pm this afternoon, after which he and a colleague will be holding a series of one-to-one meetings with party spokespeople on justice issues at the Dáil.