Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Chief Justice Frank Clarke. RTÉ
and it's live

Supreme Court proceedings have been broadcast for the first time in State history

The decision to allow cameras was made recently.

Updated 2.40pm

PROCEEDINGS OF THE Supreme Court have been broadcast live for the first time in the history of the State.

The decision to allow RTÉ cameras into the country’s highest court was taken after the chief justice Frank Clarke said he wanted to “demystify” what happens in the court.

Despite being allowed in for today’s proceedings, Clarke has said that the filming of criminal proceedings is still a long way off.

The court dealt with two cases; one concerning an appeal made by a man who was to be extradited to the USA for mortgage fraud offences. This was rejected.

The US had sought the extradition of Patrick Lee, to stand trial for 51 alleged offences of wire fraud, unlawful monetary transactions and aggravated identity theft. Lee had fought this in Irish courts.

The High Court and Court of Appeal had ruled that Lee should face extradition, but he brought the matter to the Supreme Court.

Today, the Supreme Court upheld that ruling. Clarke said that he “would propose that counsel be heard further on the precise form of order which should now be made to facilitate Mr Lee’s extradition”.

The other involved the case of a man who was looking for compensation for abuse he endured as a child in a residential institution. This was granted.

The applicant, referred to as Mr H, has previously been denied compensation because the residential institution he was in was not covered by the scheme set up to provide redress.

The Supreme Court looked at his case in relation to the Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002.

Mr Chief Justice Clarke said that the purpose of the legislation “is to adopt a generous or liberal approach having regard to the remedial nature of the legislation concerned”.

“I am not satisfied that the intention of the Oireachtas to exclude compensation in cases such as this is sufficiently clear that it would be unfair or inappropriate to adopt such a broad interpretation,” he said.

The court ruled that Mr H is entitled to compensation and referred the matter back to decide the appropriate amount to be granted.

Read: Ibrahim Halawa is on his way home to Dublin and should touch down by 11am this morning >

Your Voice
Readers Comments
23
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

    Leave a commentcancel