Remarks attributed to Attorney Damian Gomez, QC, in a major daily newspaper this morning, in reference to the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Commissioner of Police are to de deplored.
This appears to be an unseemly public attempt to intimidate and besmirch law enforcement officials and Crown Prosecutors, while also threatening their continued employment.
If Mr. Gomez and his client have legal issues with anything done by the Prosecution (or police investigators), there are established legal remedies which he can pursue on behalf of his client – none of which involve loose and apparently malicious threats against the employment or employability of any prosecutor or public official engaged in a legal process before our Courts.
Mr. Gomez should be reminded that the Law, namely the Justice Protection (Amendment) Act 2014, specifically prohibits and criminalizes any form of Obstruction of Justice (which includes attempts) and also specifically prohibits threats aimed against the (continued) employment of any Law Enforcement Official or Prosecutor engaged in a criminal trial.
A civilized society cannot long survive if the administration of justice, and the administrators of the system of justice, can be subjected to such apparent threats aimed at their continued employment as Members of the Bar or as Law Enforcement Officers.
