A SUPREME Court judge has called for speedier trials and a return to financial compensation for pain and suffering inflicted on victims of crime.
Mr Justice O'Flaherty was launching a Statement of Victims' Rights for the Victim Support organisation in Dublin yesterday.
He called for a number of reforms which, he said, would make appearances at court easier for victims and witnesses. Most of the matters are very simple to implement at no great cost," he said.
The judge said civil and criminal trials should be completed more quickly. They were taking "far too long and people are tied up for far too great a length of time. This is something the judiciary as much as anyone else will have to address.
He hoped the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal would be able to oversee a return to payments for pain and suffering at present, awards are made to victims on the basis of financial costs such as medical expenses and loss of earnings.
It does seem incongruous that you can have compensation for loss of property and incidental matters and not for the trauma of the injury," he said. In some cases, it was "very sad to have to turn away and think that these people won't get a penny piece of compensation".
Other reforms needed included separate seating areas in court so that victims and their families would not have to share space with friends of the accused. "It shouldn't cost the earth," the judge added.
Victim Support's Statement of Victim Rights was being launched simultaneously in 14 countries through the European Forum for Victim Services.
The document is aimed at encouraging reforms which would helps crime victims without impinging on the rights of the accused. Some of the rights already exist in the Republic.
The bright to provide information" is catered for by victim impact statements", by which offenders and the court can be informed of a victim's suffering. But most of its requirements are not in place most notably the victim's right to receive information about his or her case, and to be told when an offender is being released from custody.