Non-jury courts for gangland crime

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has recommended extending legislation to allow non-jury courts to be used for trials relating to organised crime, despite the fact that it has not been used once since it was introduced eight years ago.

Ms Fitzgerald has proposed that Section 8 of the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 should be continued for a further 12 months up to the end of June 2018.

The Special Criminal Court has still to deal with a single conviction of organised crime. However, gardaí believe Section 8 will be needed in the future if any senior criminals involved in the ongoing Kinahan-Hutch gangland feud are brought to trial.