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NI judges 'are not too lenient' NI judges 'are not too lenient'
(about 2 hours later)
Sentences being passed on criminals in Northern Ireland are not too lenient, the head of the NI judiciary has said.Sentences being passed on criminals in Northern Ireland are not too lenient, the head of the NI judiciary has said.
Lord Chief Justice Sir Brian Kerr told the BBC that those who criticise judges "do not understand the complexities" of their job.Lord Chief Justice Sir Brian Kerr told the BBC that those who criticise judges "do not understand the complexities" of their job.
He also rejected claims that judges were out of touch with reality.He also rejected claims that judges were out of touch with reality.
"There is no opportunity, even if we had the inclination to be aloof from society, we are involved in society's ills on a daily basis," he said."There is no opportunity, even if we had the inclination to be aloof from society, we are involved in society's ills on a daily basis," he said.
"We have to confront the most grievous of problems on a daily basis."We have to confront the most grievous of problems on a daily basis.
"We are here to serve our community and we gladly take on the solemn duty of being a judge but I will not have it said that judges are immune from experience in society, the reverse I believe is the case.""We are here to serve our community and we gladly take on the solemn duty of being a judge but I will not have it said that judges are immune from experience in society, the reverse I believe is the case."
Sir Brian said sentences passed in Northern Ireland were at least as severe as anywhere else in the UK or the Republic of Ireland.Sir Brian said sentences passed in Northern Ireland were at least as severe as anywhere else in the UK or the Republic of Ireland.
"A proper analysis of sentencing levels in Northern Ireland, compared with jurisdictions in England, Wales, the Republic of Ireland and Scotland shows that the levels of sentences in this jurisdiction is at least as severe as in those other jurisdictions," he said."A proper analysis of sentencing levels in Northern Ireland, compared with jurisdictions in England, Wales, the Republic of Ireland and Scotland shows that the levels of sentences in this jurisdiction is at least as severe as in those other jurisdictions," he said.
"My conviction is that those who make a study of the sentencing exercise and the sentencing trends in Northern Ireland will have a very different picture from that which I recognise is the popular conception.""My conviction is that those who make a study of the sentencing exercise and the sentencing trends in Northern Ireland will have a very different picture from that which I recognise is the popular conception."
Aaron Montgomery's killer was given a two-year jail sentence
However, the father of a 23-year-old man whose killer was given a two-year sentence after pleading guilty to his manslaughter said the courts had to impose tougher sentences.
Stephen Montgomery's son, Aaron, died after being punched outside a Belfast nightclub in February 2008.
"I have to sit at night with my wife, she cries herself to sleep most nights," Mr Montgomery said.
"She has to put the pillow over her face so the rest of the children don't hear. We are the ones who have got a life sentence. It is heartache from morning to night."