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Retaining and accessing mobile phone metadata breaches EU law

  • 05-04-2022 1:18pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,162 ✭✭✭


    Europe's top court confirmed this morning that Ireland’s system of retaining and accessing mobile phone metadata breaches EU law.

    Ok, But what I don't understand how a vicious killer who was convicted using this technology suddenly becomes less of a killer and is less dangerous on the streets if let out because the EU has passed this ruling.



«1

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,760 ✭✭✭Effects


    The evidence should have been inadmissible. It's got nothing to do with with how dangerous the killer is. It's all about what you can prove in a court of law. People get away with crimes all the time as there isn't enough evidence to convince a jury of guilt.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 332 ✭✭MarkEadie


    Agreed. Dwyer will probably get released and a nice sum of compensation.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,760 ✭✭✭Effects


    I hadn't thought about compensation, just that he may get released. He'll have to undergo a retrial though, and won't just be let out on the basis of this finding on the mobile data.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,189 ✭✭✭✭Sleeper12


    The murder took place in 2012. Government knew in 2012 that they needed to bring in legislation on this matter. They didn't & they still haven't. If government brought in legislation then Gardai could have used phone records.



  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 28,119 Mod ✭✭✭✭Podge_irl


    Couldn't have made the legislation retroactive though, they would have had to do it before the murder.

    Anyway, he will get a retrial I suspect and we will see. It is an unfortunate downside of behaving under the rule of law, but it is dwarfed by the upsides.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,162 ✭✭✭10000maniacs


    But surely if the prosecution proves beyond reasonable doubt that the circumstances in which the identification was made has produced a reliable identification, this EU ruling should hold no water. Surely this is the common sense approach. Otherwise we have people whom we all know to be vicious and dangerous murderers and are a danger to us all are roaming the streets.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 442 ✭✭CarProblem


    "But surely if the prosecution proves beyond reasonable doubt" - but what if that proof was based on evidence that is now inadmissible? I don't know how strong the prosecution case is without this evidence however - I'm not qualified to comment

    "But what I don't understand how a vicious killer who was convicted using this technology suddenly becomes less of a killer and is less dangerous on the streets if let out because the EU has passed this ruling"

    I often read threads on here and think "if I'm ever on trial for a crime I didn't commit those people could be on the jury". Yet again I'm thinking that and it's a terrifying vista



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,177 ✭✭✭Fandymo


    The law is the law. Dwyer, and likely others, will get out and probably get a nice chunk of money from the taxpayer due to our Government being incompetent. Will anyone get the blame for not implementing the law? Fcuk no, we don't do consequences in Ireland.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 84,733 ✭✭✭✭Atlantic Dawn
    M


    Will there be a liability for the phone companies for retaining this data and having it available or is it a fact that the government insisted on it being kept despite it being known to be not compatible with EU law?



  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 28,119 Mod ✭✭✭✭Podge_irl


    You can't use illegally gathered data in a prosecution. Throwing the rules out cause you "know" you get the right guy is the stuff of authoritarian dreams.

    They can go for a retrial and do it without this evidence (Though it will be tough to get a "fair" trial).



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,177 ✭✭✭Fandymo


    It'll also be next to near impossible to place Dwyer, in the places they need to prove him to have been, without the data.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 86,729 ✭✭✭✭Overheal


    Even courts in the US lean towards the defendant in these case law examples. LEOs cannot just ignore the peoples constitutional rights, even the suspects, even when they were right to be suspicious.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,998 ✭✭✭c.p.w.g.w


    According to some legal expert on Six One...

    Even if the phone data was obtained illegally, the judge can still allow it...if that's correct that's kinda scary



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,861 ✭✭✭Jinglejangle69


    So does this mean that illegal activity on the web and peoples phones can’t be used to prosecute??


    Surely not, hopefully???



  • Posts: 6,192 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    To best of my knowledge,there no evidence exists elaine ohara was even murdered


    This case never sat easy with me,to hold highly questionable fetishs and what 2 consenting adults do in a bedroom,


    This shouldnt be used as a reason to imprison someone either...ive no doubt dwyer is a sketchy individual,but the lack of any physical evidence reflects poorly upon justice system imo



  • Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 15,109 Mod ✭✭✭✭whiterebel


    There definitely was something when this case was presented, that the Irish court could chose to ignore the ruling and uphold the guilty verdict.



  • Posts: 6,192 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Would he not just appeal it to european courts....potentially causing an issue of the supreme court being over ruled and having to back down??



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 86,729 ✭✭✭✭Overheal


    Depends on Irelands Jurisprudence and EU's. EU says they cannot use it, so it's a matter of whether it's a supremacy clause issue or if its a case of two sovereignties (evidence can't be used to convict EU crimes, may be used possibly to convict Irish crimes, if Irelands courts allow it)



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 71,142 ✭✭✭✭L1011


    Unlikely. Plenty of other evidence and also there's a history of "if you didn't challenge it at the trial, feck off" rulings.

    The other evidence is still legit even if they figured out it was him and then obtained said evidence based on the phones. Its not the same as the seeing something on an illegal search connection.



  • Posts: 18,749 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Illegally gathered evidence can still be admissible, depending on certain things. DPP v JC



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  • Posts: 6,192 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    What other evidence is there?


    Theres not even conclusive evidence,this poor woman was murdered



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 31,214 ✭✭✭✭freshpopcorn


    Could Joe O'Reilly also go down this route?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14 lukewarm06


    The issue now is being granted the retrial...if he gets that I think he will be laughing ...

    The conviction was always shaky,I think it was Pathologist Marie Cassidy who said at the time she was shocked he was found guilty given the evidence presented which was quite something.....

    There was no DNA,forensics,murder weapon,I dont think they could prove from her remains she was murdered.....



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 93 ✭✭Firminos


    Could he actually be acquitted?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 93 ✭✭Firminos


    Would be insane



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 34,216 ✭✭✭✭listermint




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,992 ✭✭✭✭Peregrinus


    The ECJ has not said that Ireland cannot use the phone data; just that we should not have retained it. Given that it was retained, albeit improperly, the question of whether it can be used in evidence is a question of Irish law, not EU law, and the ECJ has not said anything about this. The case goes back to the Irish courts to determine this.

    The general rule in Irish law is that illegally/unconstitutionally obtained evidence cannot be admitted in court, but there are numerous exceptions to this rule. It remains to be seen whether the court will find that this case comes within one of the established exceptions or will craft a new exception that covers this case. If I were Dwyer I would not be booking any holidays abroad just yet.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,638 ✭✭✭✭ohnonotgmail


    or perhaps the lack of physical evidence reflects well on his ability to hide it?



  • Posts: 1,010 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    No evidence how she died. The only conclusive evidence presented was from the phone data was that the master phone and graham dwyers phone were pinging the same telephone masts at the same times and from the same direction about the times when Elaine O Hara disappeared.



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  • Posts: 1,010 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    No. The mobile data was collected almost immediately



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,009 ✭✭✭Allinall


    After his conviction, I wonder did he ever say anything that could now be self- incriminating?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 281 ✭✭sugarman20


    I always remember Marie Cassidy being surprised at the guilty verdict. In my mind he's responsible but It's highly likely he will get out now. I doubt they would even bother with a retrial as without the phone evidence there is very little there. Even the phone evidence is weak as mentioned above.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,992 ✭✭✭✭Peregrinus


    Doesn't matter. You won't get a conviction on the argument that the necessary evidence probably exists but has been successfully hidden by the defendant.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,355 ✭✭✭tara73


    I honestly think that piece of s** GD has to ask himself if life isn't better in his 'cushy' prison than outside. I actually think it is in his case. What will his life look like outside? Nobody in the world wants to have him living in their communities, so has to hide his identity constantly, but haunted by the press also constantly revealing his identity, him on the run again in different countries, where's money to live from coming from? The life of a chased rat. Look up Larry Murphys history since he's released from prison. They can actually share so they're not alone haha. It's actually what LM did in Amsterdam sharing a place with some other scumbag he got to know in prison, but didn't last long since for sure press found out.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,638 ✭✭✭✭ohnonotgmail


    I'm well aware of that, thanks. I was responding to this

     the lack of any physical evidence reflects poorly upon justice system imo

    I don't believe it does reflect poorly on the justice system.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,760 ✭✭✭Effects


    He'll move abroad, change his name, and probably turn his hand to a job that'll pay alright. He's obviously a smart enough man.



  • Posts: 6,192 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    You dont believe a judicery handing out life sentences,without any physical/dna evidence or even conclusive proof victim was murdered,deosnt reflect poorly upon our justice system?,really?


    Take off the blinkers,and apply it to any other case,and no rational person would support it



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,638 ✭✭✭✭ohnonotgmail




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,162 ✭✭✭10000maniacs


    Correct me if I am wrong, but the phone correspondence and videos between himself and the victim clearly puts him in the frame. Bang to rights.

     “Ok, a life for a life. Help me take one and I will give you one,” he texted her.

    “My urge to rape, stab, kill is huge. You have to help me control or satisfy it.”

    And she ended up dead.

    The Irish public don't want this class of monster to be living among us.

    It's like an axe murder with the victims blood and the murderers fingerprints on the axe being inadmissible because the police didn't have a warrant to enter the house where they found the axe.

    Doesn't mean the defendant is not guilty of the crime.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,177 ✭✭✭Fandymo


    Nobody should be convicted on circumstantial evidence. Don't you have to prove "beyond a reasonable doubt" in Ireland? How did they get a guilty verdict in this case? It seems crazy.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,177 ✭✭✭Fandymo


    BDSM etc would be huge on roleplay, text messages mean absolutely nothing.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,638 ✭✭✭✭ohnonotgmail


    i'm not sure you understand what is meant by circumstantial.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,177 ✭✭✭Fandymo


    Circumstantial evidence is evidence of facts that the court can draw conclusions from.

    There was no physical evidence that Dwyer murdered Elaine O'Hara, or even that she was actually murdered.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,380 ✭✭✭timmyntc


    The fact that both his and her discarded phones were recovered together in a lake is more than circumstantial



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,177 ✭✭✭Fandymo


    Really? It's the literal interpretation of circumstantial.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,638 ✭✭✭✭ohnonotgmail


    Circumstantial evidence is any evidence that does not come directly from a participant or eyewitness.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,177 ✭✭✭Fandymo


    Circumstantial evidence is indirect evidence that does not, on its face, prove a fact in issue but gives rise to a logical inference that the fact exists. Circumstantial evidence requires drawing additional reasonable inferences in order to support the claim.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,638 ✭✭✭✭ohnonotgmail


    yeah, that is what i said. and you want to exclude that evidence or reduce its weight. the justice system would collapse.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,177 ✭✭✭Fandymo


    It's weight is already reduced, it's circumstantial and proves nothing on it's own.

    In court you have to be found guilty BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT, how can someone be found guilty of murder when there is literally NO EVIDENCE that a murder had been committed.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,638 ✭✭✭✭ohnonotgmail


    no, it isn't. circumstial and direct evidence have the same weight.



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