The fairness of the Irish justice system came in for a strongly worded challenge from Sinn Féin councillor Brian McKenna when Co Monaghan Joint Policing Committee convened on Monday morning last.
Citing a number of well-publicised recent cases, the North Monaghan public representative argued that there was a disturbing contrast between the conviction and sentencing decisions in cases involving the affluent and those at the lower end of the Irish economic scale.
The poor fella at the bottom in life will get all the justice they can give him, but when it comes to the boys at the top, where is the justice?” Colr McKenna asked.
Renewed disquiet was also voiced by some JPC members on Monday at the apparent ease with which repeat offenders before the courts can avail of the free legal aid system, with Fianna Fáil councillor P J O’Hanlon contrasting the situation with the lack of support available to the victims of crime.
Discussion arose when Colr O’Hanlon referred to a letter from the private secretary of Minister for Justice Alan Shatter in response to …