Call for overhaul of witness protection scheme

The witness protection scheme must be placed on a statutory footing or the future convictions of serious criminals could be placed in jeopardy, it was warned today.

Fine Gael justice spokesman Jim O’Keeffe said the scheme must be overhauled to ensure it remained a key tool in the fight against gangland and organised crime.

“The scheme played a crucial role in securing the conviction of Brian Meehan, the only person directly convicted of the murder of Veronica Guerin, by allowing Russell Warren to give evidence on behalf of the state,” Mr O’Keeffe said.

In 2003 the scheme cost the State €1.2m but last year the cost of housing and supporting witnesses and their families had dropped to €540,547.

However, the TD claimed the scheme which was launched in 1997 was never fully thought out.

Mr O’Keeffe said senior judges have repeatedly warned about the way the scheme was operated.

But a spokesman for the Department of Justice said: “We understand a review of the witness protection scheme has been completed and is being considered by Garda management.”

The department said specifics of the system could not be given out for operational reasons.

Mr O’Keeffe said there was no provision in law for an explicit agreement that an accomplice giving evidence against major criminals would not face prosecution.

He added: “This is likely to deter criminals from offering evidence under the scheme, and it is no surprise that the scheme is now being used less and less, as borne out by the diminishing cost of the programme.”

Witness protection has been successfully used by gardai in a number of cases. Last July, it was used to aid the conviction of two men for murdering a 25-year-old father of one outside Cloverhill Prison in 2004.