Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 June 2021
176. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of instances of reported jury intimidation or interference in each of the past ten years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35016/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra177. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if her Department has examined the introduction of increased jury protection measures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35017/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra178. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the status of the Working Group on Jury Service; when this work is expected to be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35018/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 176 to 178, inclusive, together.
Under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions.
However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service inform me that it makes every effort to provide a safe and secure environment for jurors who attend for jury duty and for those sworn onto a jury.
While entry and exit points in a courthouse may be a common area, the Courts Service advises that in many of the courthouses, particularly newer ones, there are private circulation routes within the building for members of a jury. No admittance will be allowed in jury assembly areas without a jury summons. Juries are assigned a Jury Minder who helps to guide the jury around the building and will remain with the jury while in the courtroom. These minders are in some instances members of An Garda Síochána, and others are trained in the required duties. All are very much alive to the issue of security and possible intimidation. If members of a jury are concerned about leaving the building they will seek the assistance of An Garda Síochána. Obviously in the context of the pandemic, the Courts Service have taken special measures to ensure the safety of jurors, including changing the way juries are summoned and empanelled, and giving them extra space to sit.
Section 41 of the Criminal Justice Act 1999 provides for the offence of intimidation of witnesses, jurors or potential jurors. An Garda Síochána has provided statistics on the number of instances of reported jury intimidation or interference in each of the past ten years. These are set out in the attached table.
The number of instances of reported jury intimidation or interference in each of the past ten years
The following statistics are provisional, operational and liable to change.
|
Year |
Proceedings |
Convictions |
|
2011 |
58 |
19 |
|
2012 |
18 |
4 |
|
2013 |
22 |
7 |
|
2014 |
23 |
4 |
|
2015 |
31 |
13 |
|
2016 |
27 |
11 |
|
2017 |
38 |
7 |
|
2018 |
29 |
9 |
|
2019 |
43 |
9 |
|
2020 |
43 |
9 |
|
2021 |
11 |
0 |
The Working Group on Jury Service was established to examine the issues raised in the Report of the Law Reform Commission on Jury Service published in 2013 along with any relevant associated material. The LRC had raised a number of concerns in 2013, such as those relating to:
- How representative juries are of their communities;
- The wide group of people who can be excused as of right from jury service;
- Juries serving in lengthy or complex criminal trials;
- Issues around jury tampering;
- The reasonable accommodation of persons with disabilities to serve as jurors;
- The implications of on-line internet activity; and
- Wireless technology for the work and conduct of juries and issues of remuneration arising from jury service.
While the working group met on a number of occasions up to April 2019, unfortunately other priorities then overtook the work of that group. Its work is now being taken forward through my Department’s Statement of Strategy 2021-2023 and its priority objective to modernise the courts system. The overall operation of the jury system will be further reviewed in that context, including the work already carried out by the Working Group and any subsequent developments, in particular over the course of the pandemic. This review will be among the priorities set for my Department in 2022. Any reforms would of course require primary legislation and would build on other important reforms to jury service that have already been introduced in recent years.
