... to consider these sentences light (*Trigger* Ireland Midlands R Trial *)

[AWordsWorth]

I've been visiting Ireland on work project for the past week, and this had been one of the major news headlines both in newspaper and main TV channel). At a headline glance, I thought "its good to see a serious sentence"

www.thejournal.ie/court-sentence-offaly-rape-5781593-Jun2022/

Then reading the detail, and hearing radio analysis, one of them might be out after 3 years and another after 4 years!! That's crazy!!

I'm dismayed at the sentences in our UK courts, but looks like the same issues in Ireland too.

It's an appalling case, and the sentences in no way reflect the magnitude of the crime IMHO.

Horrific crime. But sentences of 8 years or more (which most of these offenders thankfully received) are only reviewed at the half way point, and a review doesn't happen quickly and nor does it mean they will be released or released any time soon. There are also minimum sentences for many sexual offences, and parole isn't available until they have been served - we don't know how many of those have been set in this case. Yes, it is possible that one or two might get an earlier release, but that is by no means guaranteed. So none of them will be seeing the light of day for a very long time.

We can personally think we'd like to see the keys thrown away for these kinds of animals, but in terms of the sentences, I don't think they are particularly lenient. The problem we all face is balancing the right level of punishment to fit the crime - countries that have exceedingly high sentences for sexual offences like this make it more likely that the victim will be murdered, so the toughest sentences don't act as a deterrent, they act as an incentive. Dead victims don't testify.

www.citizensinformation.ie/en/justice/prison_system/remission_and_temporary_release.html