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Central Criminal Court updates youth protocol

A new Central Criminal Court protocol to expedite rape and murder cases involving victims and defendants under 18 will be announced today by Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan.

The protocol was drafted by a working group established in April 2024, chaired by Judge Caroline Biggs.

That work was undertaken under the aegis of the Criminal Justice Users’ group, convened by Judge Paul McDermott. 

The protocol “recognises children’s vulnerability and that delays in the criminal-justice system can be detrimental to child victims and child defendants”, the Courts Service said.

The protocol states that in cases involving rape or/and murder involving victims and defendants under 18, reduced timelines for a case to go to trial should be applied.

Timeline

The expedited timeline would be 52 weeks approximately and apply to cases in the Central Criminal Courts of Justice (CCJ).

Minister O’Callaghan said: “The protocol commits to ambitious deadlines so that cases to which the protocol applies can go to trial and be completed within a time limit of 52 weeks approximately.

“There is no doubt that delays in trials involving children, whether as defendants or the accused, can have a very detrimental impact on the child’s life. This new protocol takes full account of this reality and will make a profound difference.”

As part of the protocol, a court accompaniment support worker will be provided for child offenders.

The court accompaniment is not an advocacy role, but they will explain in lay terms to the young defendant what is happening at various stages of proceedings.