Blanket ban on identifying deceased child victims ends next week
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Helen McEntee
The blanket ban on identifying children who were unlawfully killed will be lifted at the end of next week.
Justice Minister Helen McEntee yesterday signed the commencement order for the Children (Amendment) Act 2021, which was signed into law on Monday.
The Act amends section 252 of the Children Act 2001, which the Court of Appeal ruled last year prevents the identification of a deceased child in criminal proceedings for an offence against the child.
Because Acts relating to criminal offences should not be brought into operation before they have been fully promulgated, the Act will commence on 7 May 2021.
Speaking last week after the bill cleared the Oireachtas, Ms McEntee said: “I am conscious of the deep hurt felt by families around the restrictions on reporting the identities of deceased children who have been the victims of criminal acts.”
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