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15/06/2006
Legal system under fire in sentencing furore
The Lord Chancellor has said that MPs should not criticise judges and that it is the legal system and not the judiciary that is at fault for "lenient" sentences.
Lord Falconer said that the judiciary, and individual judges should not be "whipping boys" for a legal system that needed to be reformed.
The comments from the Lord Chancellor followed the Home Secretary John Reid's description of the sentencing of child abductor Craig Sweeney as "too lenient."
Although jailed for life, Sweeney, who pleaded guilty to snatching and sexually abusing a three-year-old girl, could be eligible for parole in under six years.
Lord Falconer, appearing on BBC Question Time, said: "Everybody agrees that the sentence wasn't what we would have wanted. It wasn't the judge's fault."
He also said that the judges had become "the whipping boys for this" and that this was "completely wrong."
Appealing for politicians and the judiciary to work together to reach a solution, Lord Falconer said it was not one political party or the other that had led to the situation, but 30 years of statutes.
While politicians have backed Mr Reid's comments, the Attorney General is understood to be concerned that the comments surrounding the trial may make imposing a tougher sentence in the Sweeney case more difficult.
The Home Office is under increasing pressure to strengthen laws relating to the release of prisoners.
Yesterday, it was disclosed that 53 "lifers" had been freed after serving less than six years in jail.
(SP/GB)
Lord Falconer said that the judiciary, and individual judges should not be "whipping boys" for a legal system that needed to be reformed.
The comments from the Lord Chancellor followed the Home Secretary John Reid's description of the sentencing of child abductor Craig Sweeney as "too lenient."
Although jailed for life, Sweeney, who pleaded guilty to snatching and sexually abusing a three-year-old girl, could be eligible for parole in under six years.
Lord Falconer, appearing on BBC Question Time, said: "Everybody agrees that the sentence wasn't what we would have wanted. It wasn't the judge's fault."
He also said that the judges had become "the whipping boys for this" and that this was "completely wrong."
Appealing for politicians and the judiciary to work together to reach a solution, Lord Falconer said it was not one political party or the other that had led to the situation, but 30 years of statutes.
While politicians have backed Mr Reid's comments, the Attorney General is understood to be concerned that the comments surrounding the trial may make imposing a tougher sentence in the Sweeney case more difficult.
The Home Office is under increasing pressure to strengthen laws relating to the release of prisoners.
Yesterday, it was disclosed that 53 "lifers" had been freed after serving less than six years in jail.
(SP/GB)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be cloudy again throughout the day. Mainly dry in the morning, but patchy drizzle in places, becoming more widespread and persistent in the afternoon. Freshening southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
