Sir, – In an Opinion piece ("A suspended sentence is a real punishment", August 8th) Tom O'Malley explains the essence of the suspended sentence.
Why, oh why, are so many recidivist criminals given suspended sentences?
When convicted, the judge will ask about previous convictions and astonishingly to me at least, will apply a suspended sentence to a “career” criminal with 50-plus crimes on his file. Explain that to the victims.
I am not asking for the three-strike rule, US-style, but the deterrent of a suspended sentence is not working in too many cases. – Yours, etc,
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LIAM CLARKE
Ballinteer, Dublin 16.