Law ‘will harm juvenile crime scheme’

GOVERNMENT plans to change juvenile crime law will undermine a garda scheme aimed at diverting troublemakers away from a life of crime, a leading expert said yesterday.

Dr Ursula Kilkelly of University College Cork said an amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill will, if passed, allow details of a youth’s involvement in the Garda Juvenile Diversion Programme be taken into consideration in a criminal trial.

Currently, the programme is separate from the criminal justice system and judges cannot seek such information.