Law for criminal and nobody for victim, says TD

A DÁIL deputy has revealed how watching two men walk free from court after being convicted of robbing and ransacking his family's home led to disillusionment with the criminal justice system.

Launching a hard-hitting attack on the system, Mayo Fine Gael TD Michael Ring claimed the balance was overwhelmingly in the defendant’s favour when it comes to court. And the victim is ignored.

“The point I want to make is that, while the law is there, it seems to be there for the criminal and there’s nobody for the victim,” he said, concluding: “Law and order is breaking down.”

The TD also revealed that, apart from the burglary, his car was damaged on two occasions, the latest on last Christmas night when someone jumped on top of it and smashed in the windscreen. No one has been prosecuted for the offence.

But it was his experience following the burglary, his deep anger at the way the court case was conducted and the lack of support for victims that has led him to speak out so forcefully. “There’s anger. You listen to solicitors and you think you were dealing with Padre Pio. They get the benefit of every doubt, the best of lawyers, free legal aid, psychiatric reports and the sympathy of everyone around,” said Deputy Ring. The men who robbed the house were given the Probation Act. Both have served sentences for other crimes.

“They walked out of court and it leaves you with a feeling the law is all for the people who commit the crimes.”

Deputy Ring described the uncomfortable feeling that remains knowing somebody has been in the house. “Your home is your castle and you just feel there’s somebody there,” he said.

The TD was expanding on comments he made in a recent adjournment debate on the new Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill currently passing through the Dáil.

Introduced by former Minister John O’Donoghue, it was drawn up in the wake of disquiet over the sharp rise in public order offences. He also joined the growing ranks, including judges and support groups, who believe victims are not given enough support or say within the criminal justice system.