DNA plans at an end, says data chief

THE Data Protection Commissioner said a landmark court decision meant that the Irish Government could not go ahead with plans to retain DNA samples of people arrested, but not convicted, for crimes.

As reported in yesterday’s Irish Examiner, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that retaining DNA samples of people arrested, but not subsequently convicted, was in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights.

The Government is at an advanced stage of introducing legislation which provides for retaining “indefinitely” DNA samples and profiles of people arrested, but not necessarily charged or convicted of crimes.