McDowell wants deadlines to speed up prosecutions

JUSTICE Minister Michael McDowell plans to introduce measures to reduce delays in the criminal justice system.

The minister’s plan, revealed following his appearance at a top-level conference on organised crime, has emerged following the Brian Fitzpatrick murder trial, which took place more than four years after two teenagers were first charged.

Minister McDowell said he is concerned about the time it takes to bring people charged with serious offences to trial, and is considering introducing deadlines and wants the gardaíi, the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Courts Service to co-ordinate their work.