Positively surprised by the verdict on midlands R trial (trigger warning)

[TransitionYear]

I must say this was a pleasant surprise...

www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/criminal-court/midlands-rape-trial-four-men-convicted-of-range-of-sex-assaults-of-girl-17-1.4847253

I liked the warm comments the judge made towards the girl. Also pleased that all were found guilty - the sick bastards.

I found it interesting that one of the rapists pleaded guilty in advance. Reading previously I assumed he'd absconded, but I'd have been wrong.

It's really been a shocking trial. We can only imagine what the victim has been through in the 5+ years it has taken.

Was not surprised at the verdict in this case. There were a lot of pointers to a potentially guilty verdict. This will inevitably be appealed.

Pleased to see this verdict, I hope the sentences will reflect the crimes committed. It's appalling how long it has taken to get to trial and can only imagine how this has compounded the distress of the victim.

Oh my goodness.
What an appalling crime.
How will the victim ever recover ?
She had to wait far too long for the trial.
Having the stress of the trial hanging over her compounds the awfulness done to her.

I'd call the rapists animals but it would be an insult to animals.

It's interesting how the media whitewashed it by not calling it it's real name, gang rape.

With respect to the reporting:

"Relatives of some of the defendants began crying after the verdicts were delivered and became hysterical when prison guards later took the men into custody."

www.thejournal.ie/midlands-rape-trial-men-convicted-5732759-Apr2022/

And this comments is very telling with respect to the greater than 5 year wait.

She said that the trouble for the young woman "is that from the time she was in her mid-teens until now she's had to hold every single piece of this evidence to the forefront of her mind".

www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-40847228.html

The sentences leave a lot to be desired. Listening to an "expert" on the radio one of them might be out after 3 years and another after 4 years!! That's crazy!!

I know I bang on about it but the sentencing in Ireland is abysmal.
Those lads knew what they were doing.
They should get life and they stay in prison for life.
The victim has been given a life sentence.

He only admitted it at the 11th hour on the second day of the trial so a new jury had to be chosen, it was a self preservation tactic to get a reduced sentence. No surprise to see that it worked.

Fortunately it wasn't Judge Martin Nolan presiding over this case or the sentencing would have been a lot less.

I agree @honeyrider

Some of his sentencing decisions are gobsmackingly lenient, unless you are importing garlic and evading tax.
I just read an article on some of the sentences he gave to criminals. You would cry reading them. The victims got no justice imho.
I just don't understand why.

Evidence around the world shows that where life sentences for such crimes exist, the victim is more likely to be killed. If the sentence for murder is the same as the sentence for another crime, then things can't get any worse, and a dead victim doesn't testify against you. I am absolutely not supporting lenient sentencing, but there has to be a difference or else many more women will die.

Good point @Jalisco