The Court of Criminal Appeal yesterday rejected an application by the DPP to increase the sentences on two young men arising from a violent incident in Dublin in which a Chinese student died.
One had received a four year sentence for manslaughter, with two years' suspended, while the second received a two year sentence for violent disorder, the entirety of which was suspended.
While the court condemned racially motivated attacks, it could not apply different principles of sentencing to such cases, Mr Justice Hardiman said. The sentences imposed on the two showed no error in principle which would warrant an alteration of sentence.
Mr Justice Hardiman, sitting with Ms Justice Laffoy and Mr Justice Peart, was rejecting submissions on behalf of the DPP that the sentences imposed on Darren Derwin (19), Ferrycarrig Road, Coolock, Dublin, and Daniel Jones (21), Gardiner Place, Dublin, were unduly lenient.
Derwin was 16 at the time of the assault in December 2000 which led to the death of Mr Zhau Liu Tao (31). Derwin struck Mr Tao on the head with an iron bar.