West Tyrone Sinn Fein Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

No excuse for the retention of Diplock Courts - Sinn Féin

Published: 5 March, 2010


Sinn Féin councillor Sean Begley has said there is absolutely no excuse for the retention of non jury, Diplock courts. The local elected representative said that the criminal justice system needed to move forward in line with huge developments in the peace process.

Sean Begley was responding to a comment by British secretary of state Paul Goggins claiming non-jury courts were 'essential'.

Councillor Begley said;

"We have seen through many years of conflict in Ireland that non jury Diplock courts is not the way to go about trying people. Such courts in the past have allowed for an abuse of the system. Especially given the huge advances made in recent years in the peace process there is absolutely no excuse for the retention of Diplock courts. Sinn Féin has always been opposed to non jury Diplock courts.

"People have a right to be tried by a jury of their peers. This statement by Paul Goggins that Diplock courts are in someway 'essential' flies in the face of the endeavors by many of us to move the policing and criminal justice system in the north forward.