Gillen sex offences review holds Derry/Londonderry outreach events

By Q Radio News

A retired judge is taking his review of sexual offences cases in Northern Ireland to Derry/Londonderry.

Sir John Gillen wants to hear the thoughts of people in the north west about those who indulge in misconduct.

Outreach events are taking place in the City Hotel at 6pm & 8.30pm on Monday December 10th.

His review follows in the wake of the high profile case which saw two prominent Ireland and Ulster Rugby players cleared of rape.

In his preliminary report last month Sir John also suggested the public could be excluded from court, saying that the complainant's anonymity in sexual offences cases has "disappeared" because that person's name was often "bandied about on social media".

The preliminary report contains over 220 draft recommendations for consultation.

The review team has proactively been in direct contact with over 200 individuals and organisations including complainants, former defendants after acquittal, statutory and voluntary organisations, members of the Judiciary and those involved in the legal profession to hear first-hand evidence and accounts of their experiences.

The work has also drawn on the experiences of 15 other countries and various jurisdictions across Europe, the US, Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

The consultation will remain open until Friday 18 January 2019.

Outreach events will take place at the following locations:

Monday 10 December: 6pm-8:30pm City Hotel, Queens Quay, Londonderry BT48 7AS 

Tuesday 11 December: 6pm-8:30pm Ranfurly House Arts and Visitors Centre, 26 Market Street, Dungannon BT70 1AB 

Tuesday 15 January: 6pm-8:30pm. The Moot Court, School of Law, Queen University Belfast, Belfast BT7 1NN 

Responses can be made online at: www.gillenreview.org(external link opens in a new window / tab), email: enquiries@gillenreview.org or by writing to:

The Gillen Review, 6th Floor, Millennium House, 25 Great Victoria Street, Belfast BT2 7AQ.