Majority rate independence of Irish courts and judges positively

Natasha O'Brien speaking at the No Justice No Peace Rosa protest in Limerick on Saturday. Picture: Eamon Ward

Three out of four people rate the independence of Irish courts and judges positively, according to a new survey commissioned by the EU. 

It comes as Judge Tom O’Donnell became embroiled in controversy after passing down a suspended jail sentence to a soldier convicted of beating Limerick woman Natasha O'Brien unconscious. Public protests continue to take place in the wake of Judge O'Donnell's decision to fully suspended a three-year sentence for Cathal Crotty for the unprovoked attack  

The Eurobarometer poll found 73% of Irish respondents consider the independence of the Republic’s court system and judiciary to be good.

It was the seventh highest level of confidence among citizens of the 27 EU member states in their country’s justice system and considerably above the EU average of 52%.

However, 19% of Irish adults still regard the independence of courts and judges in Ireland negatively, including 4% who classified it as “very bad”. 

The survey also revealed Irish people were the strongest supporters, together with Austria, of being able to attend a court hearing via video conferencing.

The poll showed 37% of Irish respondents favoured being able to attend a court hearing, in which they were a party, remotely. The EU average was 17%.

The survey examined the view of almost 26,000 members of the public across the EU, including more than 1,000 in Ireland.

Among those who held a negative view on Ireland’s courts and judges, almost three-quarters (72%) said it was due to their belief there was some interference or pressure from the government and politicians.

The results of the attitudes of the Irish public to the perceived independence of the national justice system are largely unchanged on a similar survey carried out in early 2023.

Like other EU citizens, a large majority of Irish people (73%) cited the status and position of judges as the main reason for their positive views on the independence of the country’s justice system.

Among those who held a negative view on Ireland’s courts and judges, almost three-quarters (72%) said it was due to their belief there was some interference or pressure from the government and politicians.

Separately, 66% of Irish respondents blamed their negative views on the judiciary to the perception they were subjected to some interference or pressure from economic or other specific interests.

The survey showed young adults aged 15-24 and those with higher education levels were most likely to have positive views on the Irish justice system.

Men were slightly more likely than women to rate the independence of courts and judges as “very bad”. 

In addition, people who have been involved in a dispute that went to court in the previous two years were less likely to consider the independence of courts and judges to be good.

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A separate study on the attitude of companies to the courts system found similar results to the views of the public.

It found 78% of Irish businesses rated the independence of Irish courts and judges positively — the third highest rate in the EU, where the average was 50%.