Sentencing

Prisoner numbers continued to rise in Ireland last year, putting pressure on the penal system in areas including prisoner accommodation, the provision of services and the volume of prisoner escorts. The total number of prisoners in custody in 1 January 2019 was 3,904, which increased to a peak of 4,

The Court of Appeal in Belfast has clarified the circumstances in which an Enhanced Combination Order (ECO) can be imposed on sex offenders. In a recent judgment, Sir Declan Morgan, the Lord Chief Justice, found that two offenders who admitted sexual assault by penetration contrary to article 6(1) o

A six-and-a-half year prison sentence for a loyalist killer who became a "supergrass" after his arrest has been found unduly lenient by the Court of Appeal. However, UVF man Gary Haggarty will not return to prison as he was released and placed in a witness protection programme in May 2018, according

The Court of Appeal has increased the sentences of four men for armed robbery of a post office. The Director of Public Prosecutions sought a review of each of the sentences imposed on grounds of undue leniency pursuant to s.2 of the Criminal Justice Act 1993.

In a matrimonial rape case involving a pattern of abuse, threats to kill, and a violent attack with a hammer after the rape, the Supreme Court has set out the sentencing principles which must be observed when dealing with a pattern of violent and abusive behaviour. Finding that the Court of Appeal w

Alternative sentencing and policy approaches are needed to reduce the offending rate among young adults, the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) has said. Speaking ahead of a seminar on youth justice this afternoon, IPRT executive director Fíona Ní Chinnéide said young adults are mo

A public consultation on sentencing policy has been launched by the Department of Justice following a major review. The public consultation paper has been developed through extensive research of approaches to sentencing, and highlights issues raised during engagement with partner organisations and o

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has unveiled plans to "overhaul the criminal justice system" in England and Wales by reviewing sentencing policy, investing £2.5 billion in the construction of new prisons, and strengthening police stop-and-search powers. A review team reporting back to Mr Johnson

The Department of Justice received dozens of letters and emails last year calling for harsher punishment for criminals, usually prompted by media reporting on high-profile trials. The 80 messages, seen by The Irish Times, included calls for the introduction of unpaid prison labour, mandatory sentenc

People found guilty of crimes linked to terrorism, paramilitarism and organised crime groups could now see their sentences reconsidered under the unduly lenient sentence (ULS) scheme. As of yesterday, almost 100 additional offences linked to terrorism, organised crime and paramilitarism are included

The UK Supreme Court has provided a date for a parole decision appeal by prisoner Michael Stone. Mr Stone was previously convicted of killing six people in 1988 during the Troubles and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. However, he was released under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement in 2000.

A man who was found with drugs valued at nearly €270,000 during a search of his house has had his sentence decreased in the Court of Appeal. Finding that the original sentence of ten years with the final three suspended was “an error of principle” due to the very strong mitigation w

The Court of Appeal has reserved its judgment on whether to alter the sentence of a man who was jailed for three years after raping his wife, who asked a judge not to send him to prison. The 38-year-old man was found guilty following a trial at the Central Criminal Court of raping and sexually assau

A judge in the Court of Appeal has warned against “populist pressure” to pass a law that would limit the discretion of judges handing down sentences, The Times reports. A reform due to be passed in the Dáil this week would see judges forced to have regard to new sentencing guideli

Dr Eoin Guilfoyle, teaching associate in law at University of Bristol Law School, considers proposals to introduce sentencing guidelines in Ireland. In comparison to other common law jurisdictions, Ireland has a relatively unstructured sentencing system. Judges in Ireland have a high degree of discr