Sinn Féin spokesperson on Justice, Pa Daly TD, has today described government proposals on sentencing as an “election stunt”.

Teachta Daly said: 

“Whilst we welcome judges being given a role in establishing how long a life sentences should be, Fine Gael’s overall approach to sentencing since taking over the Justice portfolio 13 years ago has led to multiple failings. These ultimately let down victims of crime.

“The sentencing committee of the Judicial Council, which Fine Gael never wanted to establish in the first place, is still seeking to gather data to do its work.

“The issuing of sentencing guidelines has been slow, leading to weak and inconsistent sentences, especially in cases of violence against women.  

“Six years ago we in Sinn Féin ensured that this Sentencing Guidelines Committee was established. It was based on the Sentencing Council model in England and Wales, established in 2010.

“However, various Fine Gael Ministers for Justice have failed to ensure that this was prioritised and progressed in a timely fashion by working in partnership with the Judicial Council and this committee.

“This failure has been highlighted again in the wake of the case in which serving soldier Cathal Crotty was given a fully suspended sentence for an assault on Natasha O’Brien. 

“A Sinn Féin government would expedite the work of the committee and examine the need for a sentencing council, similar to what exists in England and Wales.

“We have raised the issue of sentencing with the Minister a number of times, and progress has been non-existent, making the timing of this announcement extremely telling.

“Fine Gael’s credibility in the area of law and order has long since been lost. Victims of crime deserve better and an urgent change in government is needed to help service their needs.”