McAleese confers on crime laws

PRESIDENT Mary McAleese was last night deciding whether a controversial crime crackdown could be “repugnant” to the Constitution after calling a rare meeting of the Council of State.

The body, made up of senior government members, former major office holders and experts appointed by the president, advises Mrs McAleese on key constitutional matters.

Mrs McAleese requested the council meet for only the 27th time since 1940 to consider the contentious Criminal Justice (Amendments) Bill and defamation laws.