I know we’re all used to the leniency of the Irish Courts. But this one has my flabbergasted.
[https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/two-brothers-who-tried-to-butcher-garda-like-an-animal-receive-combined-jail-sentences-of-eight-and-a-half-years-41830804.html](https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/two-brothers-who-tried-to-butcher-garda-like-an-animal-receive-combined-jail-sentences-of-eight-and-a-half-years-41830804.html)
Anyone a legit reason as to why it might have been such a mild sentence?
27 comments
Forget about the courts, the admins here on r/ireland will ban you for posting anything negative about ireland
Given that they originally went to go to trial, but then changed to a guilty plea, I can only assume they turned snitch on someone else for something and struck a deal.
Were this not the case, if expect to hear the Garda union and representatives up in arms over the sentencing. If we don’t hear anything, I’d assume that’s why.
Well at least people can’t claim that you only get harsh sentences if your crime impacts people in authority.
That’s ridiculous. I would understand if Gards were completely disillusioned by this.
The sentence for the main offender is actually even worse than the headline.
The judge – who had the option of imposing a life sentence on this violent career criminal who _stabbed a uniformed, on-duty guard in the head_ and whom the Probation Service reported has a propensity to violence and will almost certainly reoffend, instead chose an eight year sentence.
She then immediately took a year off the sentence on the grounds that he pled guilty (he didn’t. He pled not guilty all the way and only changed his plea when an expensive, time consuming trial was already under way). So this guy, who should be in prison for life, is already down to seven years.
She then just randomly took another year off his sentence for no justifiable reason. So this guy, who should be in prison for life, is now down to six years.
She then chose to backdate the sentence to when he was arrested (May 2020), so that’s another two years and two months off the sentence. So this guy, who should be in prison for life, is now down to three years and ten months.
He will get automatic remission of a quarter of his sentence, so that’s another year off.
This guy, who should be in prison for life, will be free in the summer of 2025.
*The judge could have put a serial violent criminal who stabbed a serving, uniformed guard in the head into prison for life and instead she has chosen to release him in time for the next World Cup*
The people of Ireland will never be safe as long as out of touch judges are able to hand down contemptible sentences like this to violent criminals.
This judge should be facing a recall petition. Instead, she can never be removed, no matter how much danger she puts the people of this country in.
There is every chance that the next time this guy strikes, it will come at a cost of someone’s life. Eileen Creedon won’t see it happen. People like her are protected from the orgy of violence. But she’ll have the victim’s blood on her hands.
The article explains why the sentences were so low. It means that one of them will be released. Fucking scumbags. The will kill someone next time
I think the worst sentence handed down by the state was 10 years for rape and attempted murder by Larry Murphy.
For one, I don’t know why he wasn’t also charged with aggravated assault and kidnap.
Many people suspect that he was a well practiced serial killer. While you cannot convict him for the other… disappearances… the one case you could convict him of should have been able to put him away for life.
Who is this judge!? Is she known for being laxist !? Is she accountable for those decisions ?
Someone who is willing to do that to a Garda should no longer be part of Irish society. He should either be executed, or imprisoned/enslaved for the rest of his life where he can contribute at least something to society.
Disgraceful
They need to sack the judges in Ireland, temporarily replace them with a military tribunal and bring up existing or in new judges.
And we need a new bigger prison.
Insane, I cannot make sense of it …….
Joke of a country. If this was America, he’d never see the light of day again. Attempted murder on a Garda should be a minimum 20 year tariff.
(Stabbing someone in or around the head/neck should be classed as attempted murder).
This is why we need vigilantes.
We could do with a few more prisons
You could commit genocide and receive a suspended sentence
This is a scandal of epic proportions. But it might not be fair to blame the judge – thr DPP and the cops may be at fault for failing to make a case for a more serious charge. The laws of the land may also be at fault.
But whatever the truth of this is, scumbags who stab a cop should be locked up for 15 years+
If the guards aren’t getting justice, we’re all fucked next time these scumbags are on the street.
I’d imagine the prison guards will have their own form of justice anyway
Their mammy thinks they’re lovely lads, and they’re very involved in the local GAA?
Christ almighty… What can we do to remove this judge from their position? Life down to 3y 10m?! For stabbing a guard in the head? Holy fuck…
Wow that’s less time than my mate got for selling weed
Could the Quinn brothers drive down the M50 the wrong way and get nicely toasted by an oncoming truck… because thats only way justice gets delivered in this country.
Not the worse, any sentence handed down by Judge Martin Nolan is a joke.
A quick Google of his name will bring up calls and petitions for his removal along with examples of his sentencing. Rapists and paedophiles love having him as a trial judge as they know if they’re found guilty they’ll get a slap on the wrist.
Actually went to school with Gavin for years – bit of a messer but was genuinely sound. Fell in with the wrong crowd, just like Lee and now unfortunately both of them have ended up here. I think there incredibly lucky considering the circumstances to end up with a conviction like that.
Remission should NEVER be automatic. You need to earn it. Engage with services, assist around the prison sort of thing and actually show something positive for it. There’s lads who end up in prison with their best mates and continue their wares from behind bars and still get time off their sentences
That and an end to concurrent sentences (maybe exception for very minor charges) would go a long way to help with this shitshow
If he serves let’s say 5 years total. Realistically he prob won’t live past his 60’s. Due to lifestyle and other factors. Say 65 to be generous. That’s less than 4% of his life behind bars for trying to murder a serving guard.
Is that enough of a sentence to deter other people from attacking guards? If someone who tried to stab a guard through the eye got such a lenient sentence sure I’ll only get way less if I punch/kick or try run over a guard.
Spoke to a few friends of mine who are Gardaí and they’re absolutely livid.
And then people wonder why there’s a growing reluctance within the Gardaí to deal with these sort of scumbags.