Let’s adopt US model to help crime victims
Our justice system seems to treat victims as objects, akin to damaged property, rather than as human beings.
Some argue that we should scrap our British adversarial system in favour of the French inquisitorial system.
While our system has many flaws, abolishing it in favour of another is an over-reaction by those who can’t be bothered to research solutions.
So, instead of looking to Europe why not look to the US which, like Ireland, uses the English common law system? Unlike Ireland, many states in the US have rights enshrined for crime victims.
These include the right to be treated with fairness, dignity and privacy; to be informed of and be present at all public proceedings; to confer with the prosecution and be informed of the status of the case; to make a statement at sentencing and pre and post-trial release hearings; to information on the criminal justice process; to notification of the arrest, pre and post-trial release or escape of the accused; to reasonable protection from the accused; and to restitution.
Since we are having one referendum in June, I see no reason why we can’t have a second. All it would take is political will, research, and some committee work by our legislators.
Jason FitzHarris,
Rivervalley,
Swords,
Co Dublin.
