The film depicts the history of the Special Criminal Court and the ways in which the court’s operation infringes on the fair trial rights of people accused of crime.

Joe O’Brien, executive director, ICCL, said: “ICCL has campaigned against the human rights infringements of the Special Criminal Court and emergency powers for 50 years. In that time, the Court has been criticised by the UN Human Rights Committee five separate times and there have been two government-commissioned independent reviews of its operation, neither of which have been implemented. Against this backdrop, rather than being curtailed, the use of the Special Criminal Court has instead expanded to include organised crime.

“Many people continue to be denied their right to be tried before a jury in a Court which was created over 50 years ago in response to the Troubles. We have been delighted to work with IADT animation students to bring a new perspective to these ongoing human rights issues.”

The Special Criminal Court operates without a jury and allows for the uncorroborated opinion of a Garda chief superintendent to be treated as fact in some cases before it. There is no requirement for evidence to be provided by the garda in support of such opinions. The court also permits an accused’s silence to be used as evidence supporting the case against them, effectively denying them the fundamental right to silence and the privilege against self-incrimination.

There have been two government-commissioned independent reviews of the Special Criminal Court and the Offences Against the State Acts. The most recent review was published in 2023. The only substantive response from government came two years later, when justice minister Jim O’Callaghan said that he supports in principle the recommendations of the Independent Review Group’s Majority Report and that he intends to establish a permanent non-jury court.

The ICCL has previously warned that such a move may require a referendum.

The annual Oireachtas votes to continue the operation of the Special Criminal Court will take place this week in the Dáil and Seanad, marking the Court’s 54th year in existence.