Science Supporting Justice: A Profile of Forensic Science Ireland
Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) is an associated office of the Department of Justice and Equality. We work together to deliver, to best international standards, comprehensive scientific analysis, independent expert opinion, advice and training to support the Irish justice system, writes Chris Enright, Director General of FSI.
Who we are
Originally known as the Forensic Science Laboratory, FSI was established in 1975 to provide a scientific service to the Criminal Justice System by analysing samples submitted from crime scenes and providing expert evidence in criminal trials. In June 2014, President Higgins extended our scope when he signed into law the Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence and DNA Database System) Act 2014. Under this act, FSI is named as the custodian of the DNA database and our name was changed from the Forensic Science Laboratory to Forensic Science Ireland to recognise this broader remit. In December 2019, the responsibility for the Fingerprints and Documents and Handwriting services transferred from the Garda National Technical Bureau to Forensic Science Ireland. This consolidates most laboratory-based forensic work in the State under Forensic Science Ireland. FSI currently has 190 staff, including seconded Garda members, scientists and analysts trained in forensic testing and reporting techniques, supported by administration professionals. FSI is accredited to the ISO17025 (2017) standard and holds a Gold Excellence Through People (ETP) certification. FSI is also a founding member of the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI), as well as the Association of Forensic Service Providers (AFSP). These organisations are focused on developing and sharing best international forensic practices and research within its members. Our staff are active on all the relevant ENFSI and AFSP working groups to ensure that expert evidence that we present is grounded in the most recent scientific research and best international practice.
What we do
Although much of FSI’s work happens in the laboratory, we play an important role through the criminal investigative and judicial process from crime scene to court. In broad terms, forensic investigations involve the examination of items recovered from crime scenes and the use of various techniques to investigate links between suspects and complainants, and between suspects and scenes. This is underpinned by an objective evaluation of context and scientific facts, which can lead to the exoneration of suspects. This evidence is available for review by experts acting on behalf of the defence and is subject to cross-examination by defence counsel at trial. There are few major criminal trials that do not feature some contribution from FSI. We work on cases that range from murders, shootings, serious assaults, sexual assaults, drug seizures, burglaries, explosive finds and reported on over 16,000 cases last year. FSI also supports the delivery of training programmes within the justice sector, including crime scene investigation and evaluation, evidence recovery for Sexual Assault Treatment Units (SATUs) and presumptive drug testing.
The analysis of materials thought to contravene the Misuse of Drugs Acts constitute the highest number of submissions to FSI and are supported by the Chemical Analysis department. Case submissions vary widely in size, drug mix and complexity. These cases can involve new psychoactive substances that pose particular analytical challenges. The drugs team have influenced legislation through the identification and characterisation of drugs in the marketplace. In addition to drugs submissions, debris samples from suspicious fires are analysed for accelerants (e.g. petrol), offensive sprays (such as pepper spray) are evaluated and toxicology samples associated with sexual assault cases are analysed and evaluated.The Physical Analysis area is the most recently formed department in FSI and was set up to take advantage of the overlaps between disciplines moving from the Garda National Technical Bureau (Fingerprints and Documents & Handwriting) and disciplines already supported within FSI. This department supports a diverse range of examinations where trace evidence recovered from scenes or suspects (e.g. glass, paint, fibres or firearm residue) is compared to reference samples. Items recovered from crime scenes are examined to enhance any marks or impressions present, e.g. the digital capture of finger marks using various light sources, footwear or tyre impressions or manufacturing marks on plastic bags. Suspect materials are also analysed for explosives and unknown chemicals within this department.
The area of most sustained growth is DNA, which is also the discipline of greatest recent developments. In the DNA area, DNA profiles are generated from submitted items and compared with DNA profiles obtained from suspects to assist the investigation of crimes ranging from burglaries to sexual assaults and murder. Blood Pattern Analysis (BPA) and the examination of damage to clothing are also carried out.
FSI manages the National DNA Database and its use and impact have grown considerably since its launch in 2015. Since the database was launched, over 3,500 investigations have been assisted by the database.
FSI has focused on extending its intelligence services over the past five years, in addition to its well-established evidential services. The objective of these services is to provide relevant and timely information that can help An Garda Síochána and other police forces throughout investigations. For example, in addition to providing evidential information on specific drugs cases, FSI also provides intelligence information on drug purity and adulterants that is useful in understanding drug supply chain trends. FSI manages the National DNA Database and its use and impact have grown considerably since its launch in 2015. Since the database was launched, over 3,500 investigations have been assisted by the database – by matching individuals to evidence recovered from crime scenes (called crime stains) or connecting crime-stains into clusters from the same unknown individual. FSI provides two biometric services – DNA and fingerprints – that offer compelling intelligence and evidential information when comparing an individual to a stain or mark recovered from a crime scene.
The international dimension of this intelligence service has grown over the past year. Since 2019, FSI is exchanging DNA profiles and fingerprint records with other European countries through the Prüm Treaty. This treaty allows for the automated anonymous comparison of profiles or records among participating countries and enables fast information exchange for intelligence purposes. This is already having an impact – for example, two sexual assaults in Ireland were linked to an individual on the Austrian database within days of connecting the databases. In addition, fingerprint records will be exchanged soon through the Schengen Information System (SISII) – this is the most widely used and largest information sharing system for security, law enforcement and border management in Europe.
FSI has been able to grow our contribution to Missing Persons investigations due to advances made in the extraction of DNA from bones, improved DNA profiling as well as the DNA Database system and relationship matching software. We maintain a database of family members (currently with over 470 profiles) that are compared with human remains that are discovered. The improvements made in technology and systems, coupled with effective cooperation with the Garda Missing Persons Bureau, have allowed us to identify the remains of eight missing people in 2019 and five people so far in 2020. FSI is very committed to advancing our technology, our systems, and processes to continuously develop
this service.
What the future holds
As in other jurisdictions, the demand for forensic services has more than doubled over the past five years and is expected to grow even further over the next three years. FSI has developed a strategic plan that maps out how we would like to improve and grow our services over this period. These plans are enabled by the construction of a new purpose-built FSI facility at the Backweston Science Campus. The design of this new facility will support the analysis and evaluation of trace evidence to the most exacting international standards as well as providing significant additional space and capacity for submissions, case work and the introduction of new forensic services. FSI is proud to have very capable and talented forensic practitioners, analytical staff and administrative professionals in our organisation – they are highly regarded for the services that we deliver today within the forensic networks that we cooperate with. The additional capacity enabled by our new facility will allow us to develop and introduce new techniques that can support criminal investigations more efficiently and effectively, with a positive impact on the justice system. We will expand the range of countries we exchange biometric information with and will work on maximising the investigative and intelligence potential from the combination of these services. We plan to expand our drugs intelligences services also by providing scientific and analytical insights on synthesis, manufacturing, content and distribution. We plan to improve and develop our ICT systems so that we are consistent with the latest international standards for biometric databases and analysis tools. A sustained investment in Forensic Science Ireland over the coming years, with effective partnership and integration across the justice sector, will have a profound impact on a safe, fair and inclusive society.
The next three years will be a time of significant change for FSI. We are embracing the challenges ahead and are firmly focused on our mission that the Backweston investment enables – to provide the Irish justice system with a high quality integrated forensic service through independent, expert scientific analysis and advice to best international standards.
Garda HQ / Phoenix Park / Dublin 8 / D08 HN3X
T: +353 (0)1 666 2910
E: info@fsi.gov.ie
W: www.forensicscience.ie
