Republican News · Thursday 16 September 1999

[An Phoblacht]

Spotlight on repressive laws

Offences Against the State Acts under review

Under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, the Irish government undertook to review the Offences Against the State Acts 1939 to 1998. A Committee to review the Acts was established by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform John O'Donoghue, under the chairmanship of Judge Anthony Hederman earlier this year.

The Committee in July advertised for submissions from interested individuals and groups. Sinn Féin wrote to the Committee seeking an extension of this deadline and in a letter to Sinn Féin TD Caoimhghín O Caoláin this week the Committee states that the deadline has been extended to 15 October.

The original Offences Against the State Act was introduced by de Valera in 1939. Under its terms, internment without trial was imposed in the 1940s and `50s. It gives extensive powers of arrest and search to gardai and creates special juryless courts.

Many hundreds of political prisoners have been sentenced in these courts. The Act also supersedes the ordinary rules of evidence with convictions possible on the word of a senior garda. In the 1980s, a member Sinn Féin was jailed under the Act on the basis of his possession of a poster, another for a speech he made. Updated Acts were introduced in 1972, 1985 and 1998.

Sinn Féin as a party will be making a submission to the Review. The party also encourages party members and supporters, and others affected by the Offences Against the State Acts over the years to make submissions. It is especially important that members of Sinn Féin who have been subject to political harassment under the OASA should outline their experiences.

The Address to send submissions is:


The Secretary,


Committee to Review the Offences Against the State Acts 1939-1998,


3rd Floor, Block 2


Harcourt Centre


Harcourt Street


Dublin 2.

Sinn Féin's response is being co-ordinated by Mícheál MacDonncha who can be contacted at Sinn Féin, Leinster House, Dublin 2. Phone 6183005.

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