Judges' sentencing powers welcomed by local campaigner
Judges will be able to recommend minimum terms of 25, 30 years, or even longer
NEW sentencing powers for judges have been welcomed by a Carlow woman who has been campaigning for reform in this area. The new legislation means that when handing down life sentences, judges can recommend what the minimum term served should be before a prisoner is eligible for parole.
Publishing the general scheme of the last week, justice minister Helen McEntee said: “People who commit the most serious crimes should be dealt with in a way that reflects their culpability and the harm they have caused.”
Judges will be able to recommend minimum terms of 25, 30 years, or even longer. While the recommendation is non-binding, the parole board will be required to take a judge’s opinion into account.
Welcoming the news, Angela Doyle Stuart, a founding member of the Sentencing and Victim Equality (SAVE) organisation, told : “We know that pain of the sentences in Ireland.” Her sister Lisa was 24 when she was strangled to death by her fiancé in Leighlinbridge in 2009.
“You’re barely getting through the trauma and before you know it your loved one’s killer is preparing for release. Ireland is so small, the chances of bumping into the killer is unfortunately very possible. If a judge can decide a sentence, then this is huge.” SAVE was founded almost eight years ago to advocate for changes in sentencing and parole laws.
