DPP wants right to challenge rulings

THE director of public prosecutions has called on the minister for justice to grant him the right to challenge all rulings by judges who throw cases or evidence out of court on technicalities.

The director James Hamilton said the issue was urgent because of the extensive volume of new legislation coming into effect which could be open to differing interpretation.

Under existing procedures the DPP can appeal in the High Court to get a second opinion on a technicality, or point of law, which leads to a judge directing a jury to acquit the accused.