Lenihan backs judge in row over Holohan remarks

Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan has given his backing to Mr Justice Paul Carney following remarks he made last night that were widely believed to be in connection with the Robert Holohan case.

The judge criticised the schoolboy's mother for raising issues during the sentencing hearing that had not been brought up in the trial.

Mr Justice Carney said the remarks led to the killer being wrongly labelled as a paedophile and warned that any future abuse of the victim impact procedures would be dealt with firmly by the courts.

The judge's remarks have been criticised by Ms Holohan and victim support groups, but Minister Lenihan said today that he was making "an important public statement".

He also hinted that the publication of victim impact statements might be curtailed by the courts in the future.

Tánaiste Brian Cowen said earlier that the Government has no plans to change the law relating to the way victim impact statements are made in court.