Willie Hay says Diplock-style courts necessary given threat and backs non-jury trials until 2027

Transcript

00:00We rise very much to support the draft order extending revisions in the Justice and Security

00:05Northern Ireland Act 2007 that will enable criminal trials to continue to be concluded

00:12without a jury in Northern Ireland if certain conditions are met for a further two years

00:21period until the 31st of July 2007. Of course the provisions are there to protect potential

00:30jurors from intimidation and offer defendants protection from potential base jurors in specific

00:36cases. And of course the extension is also informed by the security situation in Northern

00:44Ireland, including the fact that the threat level from Northern Ireland-related terrorists

00:50has remained substantial since March 2024. And as we know, the non-jury trials only take

00:59place in exceptional circumstances. Where the old Diplock scheme, where the default was a

01:06non-jury trial for certain offences. My Lords, I entirely understand the Government's reasons

01:13for wanting to extend the measures given the circumstances in Northern Ireland.