A High Court judge has called for "a culture change" in the way victims are treated in the criminal courts. Addressing a jury at the closing stages of a murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, Mr Justice Carney criticised words used in the final speech of a defence lawyer.
Mr Keith O'Donovan (29) of Spriggs Road, Gurranabraher, Cork and Mr James Hourigan (32) of Harbour View Road, Knocknaheeny, Cork, who have both pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Noel McCarthy (28) on May 4th 2000 at his home at Spriggs Road, Cork.
In his closing speech, Mr O'Donovan's defence counsel, Mr Blaise O'Carroll, said the fatal stabbing was "a tragedy of enormous consequences" but he argued that the accused was entitled to the defence of provocation.
Informing the jury that Mr Justice Carney would direct them on points of law in his closing address, Mr O'Carroll said that the judge would explain to them "the rules of the game". Later, he described the victim, Mr McCarthy, as like "an innocent lamb being slaughtered."
In his closing address, the judge referred to Mr O'Carroll's earlier comments and he told the jury: "One matter which is not in issue here is that Mrs McCarthy is a victim. She has been present for every single minute of this case and she must have been acutely offended to hear what we are engaged upon at the moment described as 'a game' and also to hear her son, Noel, described in the terms in which he was.
"There will have to be a culture change in the criminal courts to show more sensitivity towards victims than is shown at present." The jury is expected to retire today.