DPP delays in prosecuting cases not enough to halt sex abuse trials

THE Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that alleged sex abusers are not entitled to orders preventing their prosecutions solely on grounds of the DPP being to blame for delays in bringing such prosecutions.

In such cases of blameworthy prosecution delay, the accused person must show other circumstances to support their claim that their right to a speedy trial has been so prejudiced that the prosecution must be halted, Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns stated in a decision with which the five-judge court yesterday agreed.

In his judgment on the challenge to that point by the DPP, Mr Justice Kearns noted the DPP did not contend that prosecutorial delays were to be disregarded and the DPP also accepted the prosecuting authorities had a special obligation to expedite investigations of abuse complaints and any subsequent prosecutions.