Jury Service

Thursday, 10 February 2022

Questions (381)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

381. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of instances over the past five years to date that members of a jury have reported to the Courts Service and or gardaí that they had been intimidated and or compromised before and or during a trial; and the number who reported same post-trial to the Courts Service and or gardaí over the same time period. [7295/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Justice

I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána, but I have not received this information in time. I will write to the Deputy as soon as the information is to hand.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51

I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 381 of 10 February 2022 where you sought:

“The number of instances over the past five years to date that members of a jury have reported to the Courts Service and or Gardaí that they had been intimidated and or compromised before and or during a trial; and the number who reported same post-trial to the Courts Service and or Gardaí over the same time period”.

As you will recall, I sought the information you requested from the Garda authorities and undertook to contact you again once the information was to hand.

Under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions. I have no role in these matters.

I am informed that the Garda authorities hold information in relation to intimidation of witnesses/ jurors who assist in the investigation by An Garda Síochána of an offence; or where a witness / potential witness / juror / potential juror in proceedings for an offence with the intention of causing the investigation / the course of justice to be obstructed, perverted or interfered with.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that the table below sets out the number of proceedings and convictions where intimidation of a witness/ juror was reported.

I am informed that the Garda authorities are able to breakdown this information by offence code only, and cannot isolate incidents related to jurors only as a result.

Year	Proceedings	Convictions
2017	38	9
2018	29	11
2019	43	13
2020	48	11
2021	45	4
2022	7	0

*Statistics provided are Provisional, Operational and Liable to Change*

I hope that this information is of assistance.