The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) has described Dermot Ahern’s plans to rush a spate of new criminal justice measures through the Dáil as “deeply misguided”.
ICCL Director Mr Mark Kelly was responding to reports that the Minister for Justice intends to graft a range of last-minute provisions into a new Criminal Procedure Bill.
Mr Kelly said, “Over the lifetime of the present Government, Minister after Minister has attempted to convince the Dáil that hastily-conceived legislation can effectively counter organised crime. This is a deeply misguided approach, which is neither in the interests of justice nor those of the victims of crime”.
“It is through intelligence-led and community-based policing rather than by eroding fair trial rights that murderers and thieves can most effectively be brought to book” he added.
“The Irish Council for Civil Liberties can only conclude that Dermot Ahern has decided to grandstand on crime issues during an electoral period. The Council trusts that responsible politicians of all parties, including those in Government, will ensure that any proposed amendments to the Criminal Procedure Bill are subject to the most rigorous scrutiny”.