McDowell: Preserving evidence ‘an option’ following Laide trial collapse

Minister McDowell says preserving evidence ‘an option’ following Laide trial collapse

The Minister for Justice says there's a case for changing the law so the evidence of key witnesses could be preserved and used, even if they become unavailable for the trial.

It follows reports that former State Pathologist Dr John Harbison is too ill to give evidence at the re-trial of Dermot Laide for the manslaughter of Brian Murphy.

The case was abandoned by the DPP today citing ongoing evidential difficulties.

Michael McDowell says preserving evidence may be an option, but it's a complex issue that he will look at.

Speaking after the collapse of the Dermot Laide manslaughter trial, Minister McDowell said: "If there are people whose functions in society are to have a roll in maybe hundreds of cases at a time, then maybe there is a case for considering some system of preserving the evidence to the maximum possible extent, consistent with the rights of the accused person."