The Government yesterday agreed to appoint seven judges to a second Special Criminal Court to deal with a backlog of terrorist cases.

Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald announced that three judges from the High Court, two each from the Circuit and District Courts, would be assigned to the new non-jury court.

“I have been concerned at the backlog of cases in the Special Criminal Court with delays of almost two years in cases coming to trial,” she said.

“The coming into existence of a second Special Criminal Court confirms this Government’s commitment to ensure that those who commit serious crimes affecting the security of the State or certain organised crime offences will be brought swiftly to justice.”

Ms Fitzgerald said that at present, the next available date for the hearing of cases before the existing Special Criminal Court was June 2017.

“This delay of 20 months is considerable, and bearing in mind the particular types of offences with which that court is concerned, the Government considered it appropriate to bring the second Special Criminal Court into existence by appointing judges to its bench,” said Ms Fitzgerald.

The existing Special Criminal Court was established in 1972 and has 13 members.