Witness Protection Programme (No. 2) Bill 2007

Public bill · Private Member · Introduced

The proposal would put Ireland’s witness protection programme on a clear legal footing, helping protect people who assist criminal investigations or prosecutions, including relatives or associates facing threats. Protection could involve relocation, accommodation, a new identity, counselling and financial support, with admission decided by the Director of Public Prosecutions after consultation with the Garda Commissioner and under a written agreement. Protected people would have to provide truthful evidence, obey the programme’s rules and avoid criminal or unsafe behaviour; protection could end if they mislead authorities or seriously breach the agreement. It would also require public bodies to help create new identities, make revealing a protected person’s location a serious offence, allow cooperation with other countries and international courts, and require an annual report on the programme.

Formal long title

Bill entitled an Act to provide for the establishment and operation of a programme for the state protection of witnesses involved in criminal investigations and prosecutions; and to provide for related matters

Last updated 12 April 2018