Press Release: Justice 14 November 2006

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14 November 2006

Greens back DPP call for transparent sentencing system
 

New system will improve the public's understanding of decisions handed down

The Green Party has welcomed the call from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Mr James Hamilton for the judiciary to adopt a new system that would see judges explaining the reasons behind their sentencing.    

Green Party Justice spokesperson Ciarán Cuffe TD said: "The Green Party supports the call from the DPP for judges to comply with this new system for sentencing. The system would set in place a guideline or starting point for a given offence, and if the judge in question feels the need to deviate from this starting point, he or she would explain the reason for this deviation.      

"We have seen a number of cases over the past few months where there have been huge disparities between the sentences handed down for similar offences. It can be extremely bewildering for a victim of a crime when a sentence is handed down that seems at odds with the offence in question.  


"It is imperative that the Irish judiciary enjoy the full confidence of the Irish people. Implementing this system will improve the public's understanding of decisions handed down."