An occasional commentary on some aspects of criminal law in Ireland.

Sunday 20 December 2009

Irish DNA database

I just saw this on breakingnews.ie


National DNA database to be created

20/12/2009 - 10:21:02

Gardaí are to be given the power to take DNA samples from suspects.

Under legislation being published early in the new year samples can be taken from suspects in cases where the crime carries a jail term of five years or more.

DNA profiles will then be stored in a new database.

The creation of a national DNA database is expected to be highly controversial but Justice Minister Dermot Ahern sees it as a major intelligence resource for gardaí in the fight against serious crime.

The bill to create the database allows for DNA samples of convicted criminals and sex offenders to be stored permanently.

Samples which are taken from suspects who are later released without charge or acquitted in court will have their DNA kept in the database for three years.

Gardaí will be able to compare samples taken from crime scenes against those stored in a purpose-built forensic science laboratory in Co Kildare.

The database will also be used to help identify missing persons.

Tony "Roman Emperor Complex" Blair and the war inquiry

This is fascinating, the whole legal justification of invading and waging war on a sovereign State looks to have been based on a lie.

Blair is absolutely without shame or any ability to discriminate between right and wrong on anything other than  a religious basis.

The British DPP has publicly called him narcissistic.

Hmm let's have a serious look at the act of representation to the British Parliament for the purpose of gaining the legal authority to wage war against Iraq, the knowledge behind Blair's representation that there was no credible threat of WMDs striking Britain or any of their allies, and the legality of his actions..

Basic concepts like Actus reus, mens rea,  scienter and so on might figure prominently in this discussion.

Grotesque public display for support for sex offender in Tralee Co Kerry

Sorry for being so blunt but this was a sickening stomach turning episode,
What is the rate of acquitals in the Circuit Criminal Court in Kerry? very very high compared to most other circuits, other Juries in Ireland tend to be far less sympathetic to defendants, yet they convicted him here, the Judge gave him a seven year sentence, and specifically seared the priest who gave testimony as a character witness.

Gosh, I have worked in Dublin, New York, London, Tralee, Limerick, Russia and Belfast.

Everywhere is different but there are so many similarities that would make people in Kazan in Russia, Tralee in Ireland, and Belfast in Northern Ireland laugh ate the suggestion but smile in agreemnet wghen they examin the fundamental basic processes.

Many are the simlliarities in the legal systems, the same could also be said in Dublin and New York.

This smells.

Not in the way of short cuts and minor mistakes but in the way that a verdict reached by an impartial jury in a region ledgendary for acquittals and a sympathetic irish judge ( let's be real, the irish legal system is amongst the most lenient in the world when it comes to the sentencing of  those convicted of criminal offences)  is undermined by the virtual picketing if the court by local people and the insidious nature of the character evidence.

Obviously  there are lots of grey areas and vague unreconcilled issues in every criminal case and of course many in this one, let's shine some of the hygienic light of public scrutiny on it.

Saturday 19 December 2009

What action will the Irish State take against the Bishops who are aledged to have covered up the sex abuse of children in their dioceses?

Lets have a hard look at the political situation in Ireland and the failure to prosecute the Vatican and the Irish Bishops for the enabling and facilitation of a wide range of sexual offences committed by priests against children. I am not of course interested in sensationalist rant, I would rather have an genuine forensic examination of the legal issues.

Irish Law