Naomi Long

The Department of Justice today published a summary of responses from a public consultation which was carried out from June to August 2025.

The consultation posed a series of questions relating to the maximum sentences for the offence of causing or allowing a child or vulnerable adult to die or suffer serious physical harm.

It proposed increasing the maximum sentence for causing or allowing the death of a child or vulnerable adult from 14 years to life imprisonment.

There have been 17 convictions for this offence between 2021 and 2024, with the longest sentence imposed being 11 years’ imprisonment.

The consultation also proposed increasing the maximum sentence for causing or allowing serious physical harm from 10 years to 14 years.

There were 18 responses to the consultation, with only one submission objecting to the increase in respect of both offences.

Justice minister Naomi Long said: “Overall, respondents overwhelmingly welcomed the proposal to increase the maximum custodial sentences for the offences. 

“As these proposals require primary legislation, it is not my Department’s intention to bring forward these revised sentencing arrangements during the current Assembly mandate.

“Consideration will be given to identifying an appropriate legislative vehicle to bring them forward during the next mandate.”