DPP issues statement on his position in Wall-McCabe case

In an unusual development, the newly appointed Director of Public Prosecutions, James Hamilton, has issued a statement on his position in the case of the former nun Nora Wall and her co-defendant, Paul McCabe. In the Court of Criminal Appeal yesterday, Mr. Hamilton asked for time to consider whether to seek a retrial of the two on rape charges. His request for a postponement of a decision on a retrial was described as incredible by Fine Gael's justice spokesman, Jim Higgins. Both Ms. Wall and Mr. McCabe had their convictions quashed last July on the DPP's application.

The new Director replaced Eamonn Barnes last September. This morning he issued a statement clarifying his position on the question of a retrial in the case of the two. During yesterday's brief hearing in the Court of Criminal Appeal, counsel for the DPP sought the adjournment because he wanted time to consider the trial transcript. He said that until the matter was listed before the Court yesterday neither the Director, his counsel or the Chief State Solicitor, who acts on his behalf, had received a transcript. The transcript was not made available to the Chief State Solicitor until yesterday afternoon.

The DPP's statement did not indicate if he had sought to get a copy of the transcript earlier. Mr. Hamilton said in the statement that now that he had the transcript careful consideration would be given to the question of a retrial.