Seminar hears opinion on future of legal system

It is vital to create a criminal justice system in Northern Ireland that is acceptable to the broad community, according to Mr Jim Daniell, who is charged with reviewing the current system.

Mr Daniell, chairman of the Criminal Justice Review Group, yesterday hosted in Belfast one of a series of seven seminars designed to hear professional and public opinion on how the current system might be improved.

The review was established as part of the Belfast Agreement, and its proposals are due to be published in the autumn. Its remit does not cover policing, emergency legislation, non-jury courts or paramilitary crime, which come under other reviews.

So far the group has visited the Republic, Belgium, Canada, England, Germany, the Netherlands, Scotland, South Africa, New Zealand and the US to examine how other jurisdictions deliver criminal justice, said Mr Daniell yesterday.

The group is examining a range of issues including judicial appointments, greater openness within the system, the prison system, the possible establishment of a Law Reform Commission, the workings of the prosecution process, restorative justice, and greater North-South co-operation on criminal justice matters.

Mr Daniell said the group had an "open mind" on all the issues raised about the future criminal justice system for the North.

The Falls Community Council has said the success of the Criminal Justice Review was being jeopardised by a consultation process which was not inclusive. Mr Ciaran Kearney, of the Council, complained that many community organisations and human rights groups had not been notified about yesterday's seminar.