Madam, - The Director of Public Prosecutions, in a recent address to the Law Society at UCC, asked judges to "work towards greater uniformity in sentencing in order to avoid the Oireachtas imposing more mandatory sentences on offences" (The Irish Times, February 9th). But why should they do so, since quite a number of them have, effectively, thumbed their noses at the mandatory minimum sentences already in place?
From any review of criminal court decisions, it would be difficult to avoid the conclusion that our courts are soft on crime - particularly crime concerning illicit drugs. A recent survey disclosed that nine out of 10 drug dealers were not given mandatory minimum sentences when, in my view, the courts should be considering the imposition of life sentences if the social scourge of illegal drugs is to be controlled.
From the number and size of recent seizures of illegal drugs, it is clear that current anti-drugs laws are not securing the intended results. In this respect, it is not sufficient to have an effective and efficient police service to bring some culprits - regrettably only a fraction of those profiting from this form of crime - to trial, if the judiciary are not prepared to impose sentences that will help discourage others who may be tempted to profit from the same activity.
As it stands, the State is obviously losing the war on illicit drugs with its associated crimes, including murder and, in my opinion, the judiciary, through its lenient sentencing policy over the past decade, has contributed to this terrible state of affairs.
Is it not time that some engagement with how Irish life is being lived and experienced today, was allowed to shape judicial sentencing policies? For example, is it not time to give ordinary citizens a say in the sentencing policy of the lower courts, since the relative isolation of the judiciary from society leaves many of its members remarkably ill-fitted for this role?
The judiciary have a very important job to do. But there is no reason why, as part of their contract with the State, judges should not be obliged to ensure that while dispensing justice to individuals, they always serve the public interest. - Yours, etc,
LIAM Ó GÉIBHEANNAIGH,
Áth an Ghainimh,
Co Átha Cliath.