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13/12/2002
Top judge calls for tougher terms for sex offenders
Northern Ireland's top judge has called on the government to bring forward legislation to allow for tougher sentences to be handed down to child sex offenders.
Currently, Northern Ireland law provides that the maximum sentence for a person convicted of sex offence is only two years. However, across the Irish Sea, offenders in England can be jailed for up to 10 years for gross indecency with a child.
At the Appeals Court today, Lord Chief Justice Sir Robert Carswell said the change was now "long overdue". Sir Robert then urged the government to address the matter urgently as he delivered reserved judgement on an appeal by a 33-year-old man.
The convicted paedophile had been given three consecutive terms of 21 months after admitting three counts of gross indecency on his partner’s nine-year-old daughter.
In today's appeal ruling, the Court held that insufficient weight had been given to the man’s guilty pleas and reduced his total sentence from five years and three months to four-and-a-half years.
(AMcE)
Currently, Northern Ireland law provides that the maximum sentence for a person convicted of sex offence is only two years. However, across the Irish Sea, offenders in England can be jailed for up to 10 years for gross indecency with a child.
At the Appeals Court today, Lord Chief Justice Sir Robert Carswell said the change was now "long overdue". Sir Robert then urged the government to address the matter urgently as he delivered reserved judgement on an appeal by a 33-year-old man.
The convicted paedophile had been given three consecutive terms of 21 months after admitting three counts of gross indecency on his partner’s nine-year-old daughter.
In today's appeal ruling, the Court held that insufficient weight had been given to the man’s guilty pleas and reduced his total sentence from five years and three months to four-and-a-half years.
(AMcE)
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