DRACONIAN OMAGH LAWS TO STAY IN PLACE FOR ANOTHER YEAR
Draconian Omagh laws to stay in place for another year
DRACONIAN legislation introduced by the Irish Government in the wake of the Omagh bomb atrocity is to remain in force for at least another year.
The Oireachtas last week backed a government move to ensure that the tough laws, which are being used in the garda crackdown on dissident republicans, are renewed.
The measures have played a key role, particularly in the gardai's drive against the Real IRA which was responsible for the Omagh blast that killed 29 people and injured another 300 in August 1998.
Garda authorities indicated to the Government that in view of the current security threat assessment, especially the significant dangers posed by the renegade republican groups such as the Real IRA and the Continuity IRA, they considered it necessary that the relevant sections of the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 remain in force.
The legislation allows the prosecution to draw inferences from an accused's failure to answer material questions about membership of an unlawful organisation and use it as corroborative evidence.
This section was used in the past year in 22 cases in which criminal charges were brought.
Two resulted in convictions and the rest are currently before the courts.
DRACONIAN legislation introduced by the Irish Government in the wake of the Omagh bomb atrocity is to remain in force for at least another year.
The Oireachtas last week backed a government move to ensure that the tough laws, which are being used in the garda crackdown on dissident republicans, are renewed.
The measures have played a key role, particularly in the gardai's drive against the Real IRA which was responsible for the Omagh blast that killed 29 people and injured another 300 in August 1998.
Garda authorities indicated to the Government that in view of the current security threat assessment, especially the significant dangers posed by the renegade republican groups such as the Real IRA and the Continuity IRA, they considered it necessary that the relevant sections of the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 remain in force.
The legislation allows the prosecution to draw inferences from an accused's failure to answer material questions about membership of an unlawful organisation and use it as corroborative evidence.
This section was used in the past year in 22 cases in which criminal charges were brought.
Two resulted in convictions and the rest are currently before the courts.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1007
Published Date: 25-Apr-02
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