The Labour Party has called on the Minister for Justice to introduce guidelines for "jury keepers" after a murder conviction was overturned amid allegations of heavy drinking and sexual misconduct involving gardaí and jury members.
The party's spokesman on justice, Mr Joe Costello, said the Minister should also review the availability of free drink for sequestered jurors.
The Court of Criminal Appeal heard yesterday that two gardaí were drinking with some jurors in a hotel bar until about 2 a.m. and one garda, referred to as member X, allegedly went to the room of a woman juror who later complained that he sexually assaulted her.
While finding the conduct of the members rendered the conviction of Mr Martin McDonagh unsatisfactory, Mr Justice Hardiman said it would be wrong to place the blame entirely on the gardaí in the absence of guidelines or proper instructions for jury keepers.
"The quashing of a murder conviction yesterday in these circumstances is shocking and requires a considered response on the part of the Minister," Mr Costello said.
"Clearly there is a need for a review of the availability of free alcohol to sequestered jurors and Gardai acting as 'jury keepers' who are thereby on duty should not be permitted to consume alcohol with the jurors.
"I will be raising this matter with the Minister for Justice in the Dáil this week and seeking a commitment to introduce guidelines for 'jury keepers' and to review the availability of free alcohol to jurors who are sequestered overnight in hotels", Mr Costello said.
He added there should also be an investment in the upgrading of jury rooms in the courts, many of which are uncomfortable and unsuitable for a jury's deliberations.
