Civil liability bid rejected

THE Law Reform Commission has advised the Government against introducing legislation similar to the French “good Samaritan” law, which makes it an offence not to help someone whose life is in danger.

In a paper published last night, the Law Reform Commission recommends existing law should not be amended to impose any general positive duty to intervene. Under French law, which is unusual by international legal standards, it is an offence to fail to assist a person in danger.

The commission’s document on the civil liability of good Samaritans was launched by Attorney General Paul Gallagher.

His predecessor, Rory Brady, had asked the commission to examine the issue against the background of an increasing use of defibrillators to prevent cardiac death.