Advocacy group calls for tougher sentencing for serious crimes
An advocacy group for the families of victims of homicide is supporting calls by the widow of Gerry McCabe, for tougher sentencing for the murder of a Garda.
Ann McCabe’s husband, Detective Garda McCabe, was murdered in 1996 in Limerick during a raid on a post office.
The recommendation comes after Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was gunned down during the robbery of a credit union in Jenkinstown, Co. Louth on Friday night.
AdVIC say there should be a minimum mandatory sentence of 20 years for those who commit murder, in order to achieve justice for victim's families.
Criminologist and special advisor to AdVIC, John O'Keeffe, says the current sentencing path is not tough enough.
“When it comes to sentencing in this country, the rights of the offender is always placed above that of the victims or their families.
“We must introduce minimum mandatory sentences for serious crime such as rape and homicide so murders for example can expect to serve sentences of 20 years and above without remission.”
