Report calls for reform of Children's Courts

A report on the operation of the Children’s Courts has identified a number of issues in need of reform, including some abuses of the system.

The report, which was conducted by Dr Ursula Kilkelly of the Law Faculty in University College Cork, found that many juvenile offenders are playing the system, and that it is a small number of offenders that are persistently getting into deeper trouble.

She also found that there is a potential for inconsistency in treatment of juveniles’ cases.

Dr Kilkelly has recommended that a statutory Juvenile Justice Agency be established to oversee the operation of the court system from the perspective both of the offender and the legal system.

Her report also called for specialist training for judges and lawyers working in the Children’s Courts.