Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 400: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress to date on introducing new reforms on protecting the identities of witnesses and victims at identification parades through the installation of one-way glass in Garda stations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40057/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The current procedure used by the Garda Síochána, which was introduced following advice from the Law Officers, involves each participant in an identity parade being assigned a number. In order to ensure that there is no doubt as to the person the victim or witness has identified, it is necessary that a clear identification is made. This may be done in a number of ways, including pointing at or stating the position or number of a person on the line-up. Prior to this, the procedure necessitated the witness or victim placing their hand on the person as part of the identification process. I am advised by the Garda authorities that research is ongoing in relation to facilities in Garda stations to enable formal identification parades to be conducted without the identifying witness needing to be in the presence of or visible to the suspect.