A Limerick Minister has told the Dail today that there is massive and widespread anecdotal evidence of jury intimidation in Limerick City.
Defence Minister Willie O’ Dea made his comments as he spoke during the Dáil Debate on the new Criminal Justice Amendment Bill, which was published this week.
The new laws, designed by lawmakers to target organised crime, would include a new offence of directing or controlling a criminal organisation, which will carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. In a major step forward, the new laws include an amended offence relating to “participation or involvement in organised crime” with a penalty of up to 15 years in jail.
A central part of the new laws would also see organised crime offences tried in the non jury Special Criminal Court.
“The unfortunate truth is that there is massive and widespread anecdotal evidence of jury intimidation in Limerick”, O’ Dea admitted in the Dail.
“While it is impossible to produce hard data on this intimidation; it is easy enough to find firm evidence of its results and implications.
Jury intimidation in Limerick is now so widespread and pervasive, that it is now virtually taken for granted that in any trial relating in any way to gangland crime, potential jurors are either intimidated or feel they are in danger.”
O’ Dea also said the problem is now so bad it is becoming “extremely difficult to get people to serve on a jury in Limerick, now, even for ordinary trials on indictment which have no connection with gangland crime”.
Speaking at the same debate this morning, Justice Minister Dermot Ahern also acknowledged intimidation of juries was an issue, saying court officials in Limerick have “cited specific incidents where gang members have sat in the front row to intimidate juries”.
Ahern continued,
“Recent killings including the very sad case of Roy Collins, emphasise the complete disregard of these gangs for the rule of law and their determination to intimidate whole communities.
Beyond the absolute tragedy of this murder, it confirms in the minds of the public the threat posed by these gangs and creates the climate of fear which is so conducive to criminal gangs maintaining their control within their communities. Up to this unprecedented event I had resisted calls for sterner legislation but I cannot stand by and let our criminal justice system be undermined.”
In an effort to combat this, the new legislation, when approved, would also see the penalty for intimidation of a witness or juror increased from 10 years to 15 years in jail.
There is opposition to the passing of the new legislation with The Irish Council of Civil Liberties among some groups criticising the Government saying they “bear all the hallmarks of a police state” and should be subject to further debate.
The Legislation is available to read on the Oireachtas Website.
If they changed they way they *presented* the Jury/witnesses in the first instance, it would make a hellova difference!! A colleage of mine was called for Jury duty a couple of months back, and as is the norm down in that joke of a court house, names were read out within ear distance of some of the most notorious criminals in Limerick. It’s beyond comincal. Another colleague told me of another instance, even more shocking – their daughter was mugged in City and had her arm broken, within walking distance of two Bean Garda (who conveniently didn’t hear or see anything *cough, splutter*!). She was asked to identify the culprit in a line up in Henry Street. The boys in blue had her stand in front of a couple of youths, proceeded to call out her full name, followed by her address, asked her to verify (I shite you not!!) and then to pick out the culprit who attacked her. Now, in all seriousness, would you stand there and point the finger, knowing that this person now knew your name and where you lived!! Needless, to say they got away with it and the boys in blue put they way they handled the situation, down to *procedure*.
I see the bleeding hearts groups have been criticising this legislation already. My only comment to them is to shut the f*ck up. Its about time these sc*mbags were crushed, and people who live in the rules of the law have nothing to fear.