Vol. 471 No. 4
219 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Justice if she will consider assigning Garda protection to jurors as they leave the courthouse following the issue of their verdict; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that jurors can feel intimidated as they pass through groups of relatives; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20857/96]
The deployment of Garda personnel is the responsibility of the Garda authorities. They have informed me that gardaí are invariably present in court at criminal trials and every effort is made to ensure that appropriate protection is given to witnesses and jurors when a decision in a case is delivered. The Garda authorities further state that should an individual juror bring to Garda notice any particular fears, the gardaí will respond appropriately.
