Support measures for child witnesses in criminal proceedings in Ireland

Abstract

Recent constitutional, legislative and cultural changes have encompassed a significant restructuring of the rights framework for the child in Irish society. This thesis explores how this has affected the child witness in criminal proceedings and whether Ireland is fulfilling its constitutional and international rights obligations in this regard. It examines the extent of the protection of the child witness through appropriate support measures in criminal proceedings and the evolution of these protections, particularly over the last century. The thesis also examines the competence and compellability of the child witness as this is a fundamental issue which directly affects the extent to which the child witness is heard in criminal proceedings.