Minister of State and North Tipperary TD Máire Hoctor has welcomed the publication by the Department of Justice, Equality & Law Reform of the Interim Report from the National Commission on Restorative Justice. The Nenagh Community Reparation Project has shown that the pioneering restorative justice project has had a success rate of 77% in deterring repeat offences.

Minister Hoctor, a director of the Nenagh Community Reparation Project and its first chairperson said: 'This project allows offenders to make amends to the local community through a process of community service and dialogue with the victim. The offender may give up their annual leave to help disabled groups or work with tidy town groups on projects in the locality.

'Importantly, they apologise to the victim in an effort to heal the harm done by the offence.

'The Interim Report looks at how restorative justice is currently applied here and in other jurisdictions and points to the research based evidence abroad on the potential of restorative justice as an additional measure to combat crime. It is important that we have practical evidence to support this concept. This report recommends an expansion of restorative justice projects, encouraging more participation and cooperation form the judiciary. The Commission will now continue its work to finalise its thinking on how best we might seek to expand the use of restorative justice.'

The Minister for Justice, Dermot Ahern, thanked local Judge Mary Martin and the other members of the Commission and said it is important that we are responsive to the needs of victims.

'Initiatives such as restorative justice must be assessed to establish how best they might be used to meet the needs of victims, offenders and communities impacted by crime. 'We must look at all aspects and come to a clear view on how restorative justice might be applied in this jurisdiction.

'The Interim report highlights a number of issues which the Commission needs to study further including the extent to which restorative justice can help reduce re offending and better meet the needs of some victims and offenders for whom the traditional court process may not be satisfactory.

Concluding Minister Hoctor said 'We must make the most of all our resources in the fight against crime, I am proud that Nenagh is leading the way with a successful alternative example for dealing with crime.'

For more information on Restorative Justice in Ireland click on RJI