Fighting crime – Welcome proposals

ON A WEEKEND when two people were shot dead in Dublin — one reportedly an innocent bystander murdered just because he was a witness — any proposal that will strengthen the hand of the gardaí in the fight against crime is to be welcomed.

A plan to fund a forensic medical unit has been submitted to Justice Minister Brian Lenihan by the Irish Medical Organisation and An Garda Síochána’s crime policy unit. The proposals suggest that 36 forensic medical examiners would monitor the health of suspects in custody, examine victims of alleged sexual assault and give evidence in court.

The service would be modelled on the North’s forensic medical teams and could be another significant step towards establishing the kind of water-tight confidence the public should have in any policing or justice system.

It would also offer protection to those in custody and those falsely accused of some sexual crimes.

Let us hope that these proposals can be considered quickly and implemented without any great delay.