JUSTICE IN NORTHERN IRELAND - A STUDY IN SOCIAL CONFIDENCE

• NCJ Number: 28500
• Author(s): T HADDEN; P HILLYARD
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 74 pages
• Corporate Author: Cobden Trust
• Sale Source: Cobden Trust
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

STUDY UNDERTAKEN TO EXPLAIN SOME ASPECTS OF THE DETERIORATING SITUATION IN NORTHERN IRELAND IN TERMS OF A LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM AND TO ASSESS HOW FAR THAT LACK OF CONFIDENCE WAS AND IS JUSTIFIED.

Abstract

THE AUTHORS ATTRIBUTE THE LACK OF CONFIDENCE PARTLY TO OPPOSITION TO ALL ASPECTS OF THE NORTHERN IRELAND CONSTITUTION AMONG LEADERS OF THE MINORITY COMMUNITY. THEY FURTHER EXPLORE ALLEGATIONS THAT THE JUDICIARY IS DRAWN ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY FROM UNIONIST SUPPORTERS AND MAY BE EXPECTED TO REFUSE REDRESS TO MINORITY PETITIONERS, THAT THE ROYAL ULSTER CONSTABULARY AND THE BRITISH ARMY HAVE ENFORCED LAW IN A PARTISAN MANNER, AND THAT THE SPECIAL POWERS ACT HAS BEEN EMPLOYED IN A BIASED MANNER AGAINST THE ROMAN CATHOLIC AND REPUBLICAN COMMUNITY. THE FINDINGS OF A SMALL SAMPLE SURVEY OF THE OPERATIONS OF MAGISTRATES' COURTS DURING THE SPRING AND SUMMER OF 1972 AND AN ANALYSIS OF THE RESULTS OF ALL CASES HEARD AT THE BELFAST CITY COMMISSION BETWEEN JANUARY AND JUNE 1973 WERE INCORPORATED INTO A GENERAL ANALYSIS OF THE LEGAL SYSTEM IN NORTHERN IRELAND DURING A TIME OF CRISIS. (AUTHOR ANNOTATION AND ABSTRACT MODIFIED)