Senior judge was not consulted on bail procedure changes

Senior judge was not consulted on bail procedure changes

The senior judge who presides over High Court bail applications has said changes to bail procedures were introduced without reference to or consultation with him, the Irish Independent reports.

Mr Justice Paul Butler yesterday announced that the weekly list of cases is set to be taken over by the President of the High Court, Mr Justice Peter Kelly.

Under new rules written up by Mr Justice Kelly and due to come into force next Monday, bail applicants will have to personally swear their affidavit grounding their application for release pending trial. At present, most High Court bail applications are sworn by their solicitors.

Court dates for bail hearings will not be set unless an application has been sworn by the suspect seeking bail.

Mr Justice Butler said the new rules “may turn out to be good, bad or indifferent”.

The Law Society of Ireland was not consulted on the changes.

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