The disclosure of counselling notes to criminal trials “serves little purpose other than re-traumatising victims of sexual and gender-based violence”, according to a Louth TD.
Deputy Paula Butterly, who is Vice-Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, called for the practice of admitting counselling notes in court to be “banned in totality.”
Protests against the practice of using notes from a victim’s counselling sessions have been taking place, including outside Leinster House.
Deputy Butterly is calling upon Justice Minister Jim O’ Callaghan and the Department of Justice to take on the Committee’s proposals and ban the use of counselling notes in all forms during criminal trials.
Deputy Butterly joined us The Agenda this morning to speak to us in more detail about this.