A two-tier justice system is dangerous in any state

Regarding references to the Special Criminal Court in your editorial (Irish Examiner, December 21), I would like to make a few points.

As reported, the UN Human Rights Committee, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, Professor Dermot Walsh of Kent Law School, and human rights solicitor Michael Finucane all condemned the Special Criminal Court last October, as well as the proposal to open a second Special Criminal Court.

The idea of a two-tier criminal justice system is dangerous in any state. The Special Criminal Court is at present dealing with an ever-widening range of offences, and appears to a non-legal person like myself to operate to a different level of proof than a jury court.

I cannot believe, in a case highlighted by Maureen O’Sullivan TD recently, that a court composed of a judge and jury would refuse bail to a first-time accused who was never before any court such as the case of a young Irish speaker from Dublin, who will now spend 2/3 years in jail awaiting trial.

Proinsias Ní Mhurchú

Ionad Buail Isteach

Sráid an Mhórt Íocht

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