Legal

Special Criminal Court should be replaced, expert review finds

The majority report stated that the new version of the non-jury court should be based on a stricter approach ‘with more checks and balances’

Helen McEntee, the Minister for Justice, said she had asked her officials to consult with Drew Harris, the Garda Commissioner, the DPP and the Courts Service

An independent review of the Special Criminal Court has recommended that it should be replaced with a new special court for “exceptional cases.”

The emergency legislation which set up the three-judge, non-jury Special Criminal Court to try cases involving terrorism and serious gangland crime offences has to be renewed in a Dáil vote next week.

Sinn Féin, which was once an ardent opponent of the court, has abstained from the vote for the past two ...