Scheme to protect witnesses urged

THE collapse of the court trials because of suspected intimidation has contributed to calls for dedicated officers to be assigned to protect witnesses.

An Oireachtas report yesterday recommended a Witness, Victim and Family Liaison Officer Scheme be set up for serious crimes, including murder and sexual assault.

The Joint Justice Committee said every effort must be made by gardaí to record and to prosecute cases of intimidation. Victim Support told the committee that this was often not the case. The committee’s Review of the Criminal Justice System called for a number of other measures to be considered, including: