Courts / Ireland / Report
Rape and murder cases involving children to be fast-tracked by courts
Summary
The Minister for Justice announced a protocol to fast‑track rape and murder cases involving children, aiming to resolve them within one year. Seventeen agencies signed up, acknowledging that delays harm child victims and defendants. The protocol activates when a child under 18 reports rape or when a defendant under 18 is named in such an investigation. Courts will notify judges of protocol cases and, where practicable, expedite them. Expert reports, including psychological and psychiatric assessments, will be sought early. The Central Criminal Court will set a trial date within eight weeks of a case's first appearance, though complexity may extend this. The Director of Public Prosecutions must inform the court of pre‑trial applications within seven days, and lawyers must do so within 14 days. If a child is convicted, a sentencing hearing will occur within 28 days of the verdict, where practicable.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Rape and murder cases involving children to be fast-tracked by courts. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- 2025-02-21 Publication
Places mentioned
- The Central Criminal Court
- Central Criminal Court
Topics
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