Vol. 443 No. 8
19 Mr. Cullen asked the Minister for Justice if she has raised with the British authorities the question of the desirability of limiting prejudicial pre-trial publicity in England in cases of the arrests of Irish people on terrorist offences as indicated by her in the discussion of the extradition legislation recently.
At the meeting of the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference in London on 10 March 1994 I expressed concern about certain pre-trial publicity by the British media with particular reference to media coverage which might be regarded as prejudicial to the fair trial in England of a person whose extradition is being sought. I also drew the attention of the British side to the remarks on the issue made by Deputies in this House during the debates last February and March on the Extradition Bill. At my request, the British side have agreed to look at the matter and see what can be done in the United Kingdom in relation to this issue. It would be misleading to pretend that there are simple solutions, taking account of the whole issue of freedom of the press.
