DPP policy review - Change will help victims’ families

FAMILIES of victims of violence will applaud news that the Director of Public Prosecutions, James Hamilton, is far advanced in his review of a long-standing policy of not providing explanations for his decisions.

All too often, relatives have felt utterly helpless throughout the traumatic experience of criminal investigations. Denied direct access to lawyers, they were virtually treated as second-class citizens by the State.

It is heartening to note that, in future, if the DPP feels he can give them information without causing an injustice, he will do so as far as that is possible.