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4th May 2002
McLaughlin launches 'Justice in the Community' policy
Sinn Fein Chairperson Mitchel McLaughlin speaking at the launch of the party's Justice and the Community policy called for a major review of criminal justice legislation and the effective incorporation of the European Convention into Irish Law. Mr. McLaughlin said:
``Sinn Fein believes that it is the responsibility of the state to ensure that every citizen feels safe in their home and in their community. People also have the right to expect that public servants and elected representatives carry out their obligations in an impartial and objective manner. The Irish legal system presently focuses on some examples of socially harmful behaviour and ignores others such as corruption and tax evasion.
``Sinn Fein believes that a review of how crime statistics are gathered needs to be initiated. Such a review must involve representatives of An Gardaí Siochána, criminologists, agencies working with victims and other interested parties.
``We are proposing a major review of criminal justice legislation. This must include:
- A legal Ombudsman's office which would ensure that citizens receive a proper service from solicitors and barristers should be established.
- A review of the Family Law Courts
- The appointment of district court judges should be taken out of the hands of the Minister for Justice and be based on the recommendations of the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board.
- The Special Criminal Court must be abolished and the right to trial by jury of one's peers must be restored.
``We have also called for a re-evaluati``Sinn Fein believes that it is the responsibility of the state to ensure that every citizen feels safe in their home and in their community. People also have the right to expect that public servants and elected representatives carry out their obligations in an impartial and objective manner. The Irish legal system presently focuses on some examples of socially harmful behaviour and ignores others such as corruption and tax evasion.
``Sinn Fein believes that a review of how crime statistics are gathered needs to be initiated. Such a review must involve representatives of An Gardaí Siochána, criminologists, agencies working with victims and other interested parties.
``We are proposing a major review of criminal justice legislation. This must include:
*A legal Ombudsman's office which would ensure that citizens receive a proper service from solicitors and barristers should be established.
- A review of the Family Law Courts
- The appointment of district court judges should be taken out of the hands of the Minister for Justice and be based on the recommendations of the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board.
- The Special Criminal Court must be abolished and the right to trial by jury of one's peers must be restored.
``We have also called for a re-evaluation of the use of imprisonment. Many of those in prison may not need to be there, while there is a shortage of places for hardened criminals. People with serious psychiatric problems continue be be housed in outdated and totally unsuitable prison conditions and this, in Sinn Fein's view is totally unacceptable. There is also huge concern that young people who are being held in custody pending trial are housed in adult prison.
Sinn Fein proposes:
- The provision of proper facilities to detain young people who are on remand.
- The extension of provision of detoxification programmes to all prisoners seeking to deal with drug addiction.
- A review of the law on insanity.
- The effective incorporation of the European Convention into Irish Law.
``The Courts Service and the Department of Justice have consistently acted in deliberate breech of the right of Irish Language speakers to deal with the legal and courts systems through their first language. Sinn Fein demands that resources be put in place to ensure that is reversed'' ENDS
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