‘No confidence’ justice system punishes guilty
“Breakdowns in the system” are leading to high numbers of sexual and domestic violence victims, in particular, dropping out.
Many people are outraged at how repeat offenders are able to get free legal aid — a “gravy train” for lawyers — courtesy of the taxpayers.
Communities, particularly in Dublin and Limerick, are scared of “reporting any criminal behaviour” to gardaí for fear of, or threats of, violence from gangs or problem families.
In Limerick, a victims’ support group can not get volunteers because people are worried about being targeted by gangs.
The startling comments were made in public consultations at meetings organised by the Department of Justice as part of its White Paper on Crime.
More than 270 people attended meetings in Dublin, Limerick, Waterford, Tralee and Galway in May and June of this year.
A report on the consultations, drawn up by the Institute of Public Administration, concluded: “Generally, confidence was expressed in An Garda Síochána, but not in the criminal justice system as a whole. While there was a belief that the gardaí would investigate cases effectively, there was less confidence in the system beyond that point.”
The report said: “The prevailing sentiment from participants was that the public, especially those who report criminal activities in the community, need to see such matters being investigated adequately and a person being punished when they commit crimes, or else it will affect their willingness to report crime which will, in turn, affect the effectiveness of the criminal justice system.”
People felt the system was too focused on the offender, at the expense of victims and communities.
The report said there was “some dissatisfaction” with the amount of information given by gardaí to victims and witnesses once the case was moving to prosecution.
“Under-reporting or disengagement from the legal process was seen as most evident in respect of sexual and domestic violence, ” the report said.
It said people raised concerns about reporting crime in certain estates and areas. “They noted that there was a fear of reporting any criminal behaviour from anti-social behaviour right up to murder. There was a perception that the gardaí either wouldn’t or couldn’t protect people living in these areas and that if they engaged with the gardaí their property or their families would be targeted by gangs.”
* www.justice.ie
