During the sentencing phase of Ethan Couch’s trial, a defence expert argued that Couch’s wealthy parents coddled him into a sense of irresponsibility — a condition the expert termed “affluenza”.
The Minister for Justice published the Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence and DNA Database System) Bill 2013 today that will force criminals to give DNA samples.
Justice Minister Alan Shatter said the overall drop in crime lat year provides reassurance that “efficiencies” are making a real contribution to public safety.
The two owners of the nightclub, three of their partners, two musicians who were performing on the night and a two firefighters have been charged over the blaze in January.
This was one of the trends seen in the Garda Recorded Crime Statistics 2006 – 2010, which also showed a detection rate of 99 per cent for controlled drug offences and road and traffic offences.
“There is terrible inequality in the Irish justice system, where the rights of victims of homicide and their families constantly fall by the wayside,” say AdVIC.
Meanwhile, Justice Minister Alan Shatter has said new CSO figures give a “positive picture” of Ireland as there were decreases in 12 of the 14 crime groups.
THE REQUIREMENT FOR a president to make a declaration when entering office has cropped up as a talking point before due to its mention of religion.
The Constitution states that the president when entering office must make a declaration “in the presence of Almighty God” about their promise to fulfil their duties and maintain the constitution.
TDs Róisín Shortall and others including Senator David Norris are taking a case to the European Court of Human Rights to challenge this constitutional requirement for the president and a body that advises the president.
According to the Irish Times, they argue that this oath excludes non-Christians and non-believers from these positions unless they are willing to declare something “which goes against their conscience”.
This issue previously cropped up in the past, including in 2013 when then-Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore said he would swear the oath despite being an agnostic.
So today we’re asking: Should the President have to swear an oath in the presence of God when being sworn in?
Rain; breezy this morning
Max: 18 °C
Min: 13 °C
Cloudy and breezy with a shower
Max: 18 °C
Min: 13 °C
