Revolt over Criminal Justice Bill

[David Cochrane]

JUSTICE Minister Michael McDowell was last night faced with an open revolt by 140 barristers over his controversial Criminal Justice Bill.

A letter signed by a phalanx of senior lawyers, including more than a dozen senior counsel, was delivered by hand to Mr McDowell yesterday afternoon.

It protests against the Bill's provision for seven day detention in certain cases, abridgment of the right to silence, and automatic mandatory sentences for a range of offences. - Irish Independent

[cain1798]

JUSTICE Minister Michael McDowell was last night faced with an open revolt by 140 barristers over his controversial Criminal Justice Bill.

Hopefully they'll all vote for Sinn Féin as the only party opposing it.

[Maximus]

JUSTICE Minister Michael McDowell was last night faced with an open revolt by 140 barristers over his controversial Criminal Justice Bill.

A letter signed by a phalanx of senior lawyers, including more than a dozen senior counsel, was delivered by hand to Mr McDowell yesterday afternoon.

It protests against the Bill's provision for seven day detention in certain cases, abridgment of the right to silence, and automatic mandatory sentences for a range of offences. - Irish Independent

Didn’t realise the blue shirts had 140 hacks knocking around the Law Library…

[rover]

Hopefully they'll all vote for Sinn Féin as the only party opposing it.

thats not true. fine gael have called for it to be withdrawn. gay mitchell went so far as to call for a moratorium on any new criminal justice laws until the law reform commission has a chance to examine the area

[hiker]

There was a time when barristers and judges would have been considered pillars of society and their opinion would have counted for something.

No more, it seems.

As with priests, doctors, Garda, teachers and bank managers, these former pillars of society are greatly diminished and their opinions are now generally viewed by many with scepticism.

[rover]

There was a time when barristers and judges would have been considered pillars of society and their opinion would have counted for something

are you saying that the progressive democrats dont view judges as bening pillars of society???

[cain1798]

Hopefully they'll all vote for Sinn Féin as the only party opposing it.

thats not true. fine gael have called for it to be withdrawn. gay mitchell went so far as to call for a moratorium on any new criminal justice laws until the law reform commission has a chance to examine the area

My understanding was FG was absolutely opposed to the way the Bill was being put through the House and thought it should be withdrawn for further debate but that they wouldn't vote against it.

If I'm wrong, I'll edit my post.

[gaelach]

There was a time when barristers and judges would have been considered pillars of society and their opinion would have counted for something.

No more, it seems.

As with priests, doctors, Garda, teachers and bank managers, these former pillars of society are greatly diminished and their opinions are now generally viewed by many with scepticism.

U`d still consider Doctors,Judges,Lawyers and teachers(to a lesser extent) pillars of society

[hiker]

There was a time when barristers and judges would have been considered pillars of society and their opinion would have counted for something.

No more, it seems.

As with priests, doctors, Garda, teachers and bank managers, these former pillars of society are greatly diminished and their opinions are now generally viewed by many with scepticism.

U`d still consider Doctors,Judges,Lawyers and teachers(to a lesser extent) pillars of society

Yep. I used too. Over the last ten to twenty years they have ceased to be the pillars they once were.
Corruption, abuse, arrogance have laid these professions low in recent years.

Ordinary people are better educated, better informed and less afraid of these professions.
Economic wealth and security have given ordinary people much more confidence when dealing with these professional.

Basically, we dont take crap no more.
Thats not a bad thing in my opinion.

[FutureTaoiseach]

Their views should be treated with the contempt they deserve. Too many woolly-minded liberals in the law library and on the bench.