Sir, - In Cork last week a young man was sentenced to nine years in jail for his part in a horrific accident in which two youths were killed. Shortly before that another young man received a five-year sentence for a similar offence. The severity of the sentences and the judge's comments clearly show that the outcome of the offence, rather than the offence itself, was the key determinant in such a sentence. Such practice is becoming increasingly common throughout the country, especially in rape cases, where the victim's capacity to recover is - for some reason - taken into account when sentencing. (Strangely, two gardi who departed the scene of fatal accidents while drunk received fines and continue to work in the force.)
If we take this approach to its "logical" conclusion, the offenders referred to would probably have received fines had their victims been 10 yards further back the road, or correspondingly, someone involved in a fatal accident while exceeding the speed limit by 5 m.p.h. would receive a heavy custodial sentence. Clearly, this policy strikes at the very fundamentals of our justice system. The courts, along with most of our formerly revered institutions, have enough questions to answer (e.g. vast disparities in sentencing and awards) without adding more. - Yours, etc., Tony Murphy,
South Bank, Cuskinny, Cobh, Co Cork.