Elaine Loughlin: Time to give special attention to the need for a Special Criminal Court

Civil rights groups and members of the judiciary say the court denies the right to a fair trial and the right to be considered innocent until proven guilty, yet there seems to be no political appetite to scrap the juryless court

Elaine Loughlin: Back in 1956, Lord Devlin colourfully described juries as 'the lamp which shows that freedom lives'. The Special Criminal Court has dimmed this light and the political will does exist to reignite it.

It's now time to put politics aside to have an honest and credible debate about the need for the Special Criminal Court.

The juryless court was set up 49 years ago this week as an emergency and temporary measure to counteract what was a very real and existential threat from terrorist organisations to the State.