Act will ‘criminalise more children’

PROPOSALS to row back on legislation raising the age of criminal responsibility were strongly criticised yesterday by children’s groups and criminologists.

Justice Minister Michael McDowell said he did not intend to implement sections of the Children Act 2001 raising the age of criminal responsibility from seven to 12.

Instead, Mr McDowell said he intended to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 10, except in cases of murder, where the age limit would remain at seven.