Sentencing

Judges are failing to use community service orders (CSOs) as an alternative to short prison sentences, according to new research published by the Department of Justice. Dr Niamh Maguire of South East Technological University (SETU) and Professor Nicola Carr of the University of Nottingham were commi

Former Conservative justice minister David Gauke has been appointed by the UK's Labour government to lead a major sentencing review. The review comes as around 1,100 prisoners are to be released in England and Wales in a bid to ease prison overcrowding.

Legislation dis-applying the mandatory life sentence for a child who commits murder but turns 18 years old before sentencing has been signed into law. The Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2024 was fast-tracked through the Oireachtas in response to a High Court ruling which found that the existing mu

Maximum prison sentences for various knife-related offences have been increased with effect from today. A commencement order has given effect to Part 9 of the Courts, Civil Law, Criminal Law and Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024, which amends the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1

The government has been quizzed on plans that will see murderers who turn 18 after the offence but before sentencing dealt with under common law instead of statute. The Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2024 provides that a child who commits murder but turns 18 years old before sentencing will no lo

A child who commits murder but turns 18 years old before sentencing will no longer face a mandatory life sentence under proposed new legislation. The government is bringing forward the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2024 in response to a High Court ruling which found that the current statutory se

The High Court has determined that the statutory sentencing regime which distinguishes between children who are sentenced for murder prior to turning 18 and those who are adults by the time of sentencing is unconstitutional. Delivering judgment for the High Court, Mr Justice Garrett Simons stated th

Legislation requiring life sentences to be imposed on convicted murderers who are children at the time of the offence but turn 18 before their sentencing is unconstitutional, the High Court has ruled. In a judgment handed down yesterday, Mr Justice Garrett Simons said the "legitimate legislative pur

New legislation will give judges the discretion to recommend minimum periods in prison for those sentenced to life imprisonment. The government's Life Sentences Bill 2024 will give sentencing judges a formal role in informing decisions on the release of life-sentenced prisoners on parole.

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre has welcomed a "trend of substantial sentences being handed down for sexual crimes" following the sentencing of rapist Raymond Shorten. Shorten will serve 30 years behind bars following the imposition yesterday of a 17-year sentence for raping two young women on two dates i

New sentencing guidelines for cases involving domestic violence and violence in the context of a relationship are expected to be presented to the Judicial Council for approval by the end of the year. The Labour Party yesterday led calls in the Dáil for "increased urgency" in the development o

Northern Ireland’s Crown Court of Derry has given three women suspended sentences for perverting the course of justice and withholding information in respect of the circumstances surrounding showjumper Katie Simpson’s death. Delivering judgment for the Crown Court of Derry, HHJ Neil Raff

Northern Ireland’s Court of Appeal has determined that a minimum tariff of 20 years for the premeditated murder of the late Lu Na McKinney “signalled a permissible move towards higher tariffs to reflect the horrific elements of this crime”. Delivering judgment for the Court of Appe

The Court of Appeal has upheld a two-and-a-half year prison sentence for an “elbow punch” attack which left the victim with an acquired brain injury. Delivering judgment for the Court of Appeal, Ms Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh considered that "a period of two-and-a-half year

The Court of Appeal has determined that the full suspension of two sentences for robbery and burglary to facilitate the continuance of the respondent’s rehabilitation was not unduly lenient. Delivering judgment for the Court of Appeal, Ms Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh commented tha