Forensic evidence - Poor system puts justice in jeopardy

The Minister for Justice and the Garda Commissioner will have to treat very seriously the warning by forensic medicine doctors, that crucial evidence in criminal cases will be missed unless the system is changed.

At the moment, because of what is essentially a hit-or-miss situation in regard to the availability of doctors to attend at a criminal scene or to attend victims, very serious criminal prosecutions could be jeopardised.

The implications of an imperfect scheme are potentially fatal for the proper and efficient administration of justice, especially at the upper end of the league of serious crime.