Sir, – Michael McDowell did not hold back on his support for the Special Criminal Court, stating unequivocally: “To preserve jury trial as the vital constitutional norm in the Irish system of trial for indictable crime, provision must be made to defend us from those who are both capable of and likely to use intimidation of jurors and witnesses to escape justice” (“Very real questions for DPP following Gerard Hutch murder trial”, Opinion & Analysis, April 19th). But as reported by The Irish Times, there are “eight subversive prisoners in Portlaoise Prison, the maximum security prison which houses paramilitaries convicted in the Special Criminal Court” (“Special Criminal Court review group split on whether court should be retained”, News, April 24th).
The calls for the abolition of this relic from our past will only grow after the acquittal of Gerard Hutch last week.
Whether the Government is politically astute enough to release this is another matter, particularly with Sinn Féin electorally breathing down their necks. It’s becoming clearer though that the administration of justice and the people’s right that it be seen to be conducted by a jury of their peers in the public eye is less about subversive activity from paramilitaries and more about gangland crime in 2023. – Is mise,
TOM McELLIGOTT,
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Listowel,
Co Kerry.