Gerry Adams has no detail on how to protect juries

Gerry Adams has failed to detail the measures that would be put in place to protect jurors and witnesses if the Special Criminal Court is abolished.

However, the Sinn Féin president appeared to suggest that jurors could be put into witness protection under the party’s proposals to abolish the three-judge court. Getting rid of the juryless court, which was set up to deal with terrorism and serious organised crime, is a one of Sinn Féin’s key election promises.

Speaking at the launch a billboard campaign on health yesterday, Mr Adams was unable to provide specific details on the protections that would be put in place for members of juries or witnesses.

The party was particularly critical after the court was used to try republican Thomas ‘Slab’ Murphy who was convicted of tax evasion.

Asked how witnesses and jury members would be protected in cases if the court is abolished Mr Adams said: “In Britain, across the European Union, across the USA, they have witness protection programmes, they deal with criminality and they bring those who are accused and they are subject to due process.” Asked specifically if he would put jury members who are carrying out a civic duty into witness protection he said: “There are measures that can be used to deal with all of that.”

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Pushed again on the issue of witness protection he said: “I am not an expert on that but I know that it works well in the US. It functions well for everyone involved.”

Outside Dublin’s Mater Hospital, Mr Adams also said that gangland murders such as the shooting in the Regency Hotel in Dublin on Friday would not have happened if the Special Criminal Court operated correctly.

“That was a horrific crime. I know the Regency Hotel and I know there are some families staying there, and the horror of what happened there isn’t lost upon anyone, but the way to tackle it is to get right behind the Garda Síochána and to support them.

“Those murders wouldn’t have happened if the Special Criminal court worked. It doesn’t work.”

Afterwards, a Sinn Féin spokesman moved to clarify the party’s position, stating there are a number of ways in which juries can be protected from intimidation.

“Juries must of course be protected in carrying out their work and this can be achieved in a number of ways including having an anonymous jury, screening the jury from public view, protecting the jury during the trial, or locating the jury in a different place from where the trial is being held with communication by video link.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny responded by saying Sinn Féin was not fit for government and would put the security of the State at risk.

Speaking in Ballina, Mr Kenny was asked if Sinn Féin was fit for government.

“They’re not, and I think it is outrageous,” he replied.

“What is at stake here is the security of our State. Sinn Féin want the Special Criminal Court abolished. I have just spoken to the minister for justice, the situation is that the administrative work is now being completed in setting up a second Criminal Court. And the reason for that is there has been gross intimidation of juries and witnesses.”

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