Crime victims' groups broadly welcome move

Organiseations representing the victims of crime welcomed the decision of the DPP to give reasons for not proceeding with a prosecution where a death is involved.

However, the president of the Law Society warned that this would lead to injustices.

DPP James Hamilton outlined his reasons for changing the policy of his office in a document posted on its website yesterday.

This followed an earlier discussion document, representations from victims' organisations and members of the public, and a ruling from the European Court of Human Rights against Northern Ireland when the government refused to give reasons for not prosecuting in the case of a death caused by the security forces.

Cari, representing the victims of child sex abuse, and the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre both gave the proposal a broad welcome, but called for the policy shift to be extended to the victims of sexual assault as soon as possible.

The DPP has already indicated he would do this in the light of the experience of the first phase of the policy change.

"A case that relies on a child's evidence is rarely proceeded with, admittedly for the good reason that giving evidence in court and being subjected to cross-examination is often an experience of further trauma and re-victimisation," CARI said in a statement.

CAROL COULTER

More story at-http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/1023/1224625124826_pf.html

© 2008 The Irish Times

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