The Gazette 1990

GAZETTE

A PRIL

1 9 9 0

effect a crime has on its victim, not just the elderly or infirm or very young, but on all victims. The evidence for this is now over- whelming. Yet they are frequently the forgotten participant in the system. The Garda Siochana, let it be said, have been quietly com- passionate to victims long before it became fashionable. Perhaps this is because they are truly a people's police force or simply because they are, in my experience, an organi- sation of very decent men and women. More recently the Association for Victim Support is doing tremendous work within the limits of their numerical strength and financial resources. But decency on the part of the gardai or dedication by voluntary workers are not enough. We need to structure our concern for the victim. This need not involve any diminution in impartiality or objectivity on the part of the prosecution. It is mainly a question of communication, of involving the victim more in the criminal process, of informing him or her of the progress of the case, even perhaps of canvassing his or her views before a particular plea is accepted from an accused. I am currently studying ways and means in which this would be achieved as a matter of course in every case, and hope, through the co-operation of the gardai, the prosecutorial service and other interested parties that it will become a reality shortly. There is nothing very new or revolutionary about this. The victim was an important participant under the Brehon Code, as is the Partie Civile today in France. It seems to me that if our law and procedure provided, in a formal and structured way, for the payment of com- pensation by a transgressor in addition to or substitution for any penalty which society, through the courts, required to be imposed, it would go a long way towards assuaging the victim's trauma and sense of alienation, and might well have a powerful deterrent effect on offenders as well. •

PARI S Sole practitioner seeks a newly qualified Solicitor to join a young expanding international practice with emphasis on trade and joint ventures in the South East Asia Region. Minimum requirements in order of precedence: - sense of humour - sound academic qualifications - good basic knowledge of French (at least U A" level or equivalent) - ability to work in an international environment - some experience in company and commercial areas during training

Salary negotiable according to experience but will be roughly equivalent to West End London rates.

Interviews will be held in Dublin.

Write with full C.V. and two references to: Tony Khindria, 18, Avenue de la Bonrdonnais 75007 Paris.

A S S O C I A T I ON I NTERNAT I ONALE D E S J E UN ES AVOCATS AIJA Annual Regional Conference for the United Kingdom and Éire 6 - 8 JULY, 1990

Venue: Corpus Christ! College, Cambridge

Conference Fee: STCE125.00 (including accommodation)

We hope that this Conference will be very well supported from Ireland, as this is a terrific weekend. For further details contact ANNE M. NEARY, Solicitor. Tel: 975755.

(See page 193 for details of AIJA Barcelona Congress)

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