Courts / Dublin / Report
Somebody should be made accountable for trial delays, senior judge says
Summary
Mr Justice Paul McDermott, a senior judge at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin, criticised the persistent delays affecting criminal trials. He noted that only three of the ten trials scheduled for the day were ready to proceed, while seven were adjourned. McDermott highlighted that some of these cases had been listed since 2020, and that the courts have been offering case‑management support to lawyers. He accused barristers of presenting "tales of woe" about predictable issues, such as difficulties in obtaining reports from government agencies, late disclosure by the Director of Public Prosecutions, and unready expert reports. The judge also mentioned the challenges faced by complainants, especially in murder cases, and the impact on families of the bereaved. His remarks underscored the need for accountability to address the systemic causes of trial delays.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Somebody should be made accountable for trial delays, senior judge says. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial
When:
- 2023-02-07 Publication
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
Topics
Stage Charge Or Pretrial Violent Crime
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