Aggregated News

The Irish Innocence Project welcomes the new DNA database bill, last heard of in 2010. In the US and UK, many people have been exonerated by so-called "cold-searching" of DNA databases.

In addition, actual perpetrators have also been eventually discovered when a DNA database search matched with the crime-scene DNA.

Furthermore, DNA of other individuals found at a crime scene can also assist in showing that someone has been wrongfully incarcerated – particularly if that other DNA is found in multiple crime scenes.

Nevertheless, The Irish Innocence Project is conscious that any such database is in conformity with the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) decision in Marper v United Kingdom where it was held that the indefinite retention by the then British system of the DNA of suspected – but not convicted persons – violated the right to privacy of such persons.

Thus, although there is universal agreement about the retention of the DNA of convicted persons, the retention of DNA from non-convicted persons, which includes a multitude of different people, including suspects, raises genuine concern as to the...