Justice Committee to look at bail laws with Lucia Farrell

Monaghan mum's son Shane was killed by a driver who was on bail for multiple offences

The Joint Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration will meet later today (Tuesday, July 7) to examine the operation of Ireland’s current bail laws.

The meeting will take place in Committee Room 1 of Leinster House from 3pm.

Representatives from The Bar of Ireland, the Law Society of Ireland, the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) and Ms Lucia O’Farrell, whose son Shane was killed by a driver who was on bail for multiple offences at the time of the fatal hit-and-run will appear at the Committee.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Matt Carthy said: “We welcome the opportunity to discuss the operation of the existing bail system and the balance between the constitutional right to liberty and public safety, the effectiveness of bail monitoring and enforcement.

Public confidence in the criminal justice system depends on having a bail system that both protects the constitutional rights of accused persons and one that protects communities.

The Committee looks forward to hearing a broad range of perspectives from legal practitioners, penal reform advocates and Ms Lucia O’Farrell, whose family’s experience has highlighted the tragic consequences that can arise where bail conditions are repeatedly breached.

Among the issues we expect to discuss are recommendations contained in the recent Staines Review, including improving the quality of information available to judges during bail applications, strengthening the monitoring of bail conditions, enhancing information-sharing between agencies, the potential use of electronic monitoring and measures to address repeat offending while on bail.

We will also examine whether the current framework is operating as intended and what practical reforms may be required to strengthen its consistency and enforcement.”

Watch the meeting live HERE or on the Oireachtas smartphone app for Apple and Android.