African drug dealer has sentence cut because he's black

[popper]

Indeed. Some interesting insights into the new Ireland in yesterday's news:

The drug dealer getting time off for being black;
Residents against Racism objecting to deportation of Chinese criminals including a convicted racist;
A Pole convicted of importing large amount of heroin.

All together now:


Take a pinch of white man
Wrap him up in black skin
Add a touch of blue blood
And a little bitty bit of red Indian boy
Oh like a Curly Latin kinkies
Oh Lordy, Lordy, mixed with yellow Chinkees, yeah
You know you lump it all together
And you got a recipe for a get along scene
Oh what a beautiful dream
If it could only come true, you know, you know

What we need is a great big melting pot
Big enough enough enough to take
The world and all its got
And keep it stirring for
A hundred years or more
And turn out coffee coloured people by the score

[morryah]

If you can't do the time, don't do the crime.

I have no problem with judges taking mitigating factors into account. But colour? what about sexual orientation and religion?

Aren't some prisoners "segregated" for their own safety (due to the nature of their crimes) and isn't that a more proper way of addressing the issue? Granted segregation opens up a can of worms but the point is that prisoners in danger are supposed to be watched more closely?

[georgedillon]

"Residents against Racism objecting to deportation ..."


I think they need to change the name to "Resident against Racism", since there's only one member as far as I can tell.

And is this woman just a "resident" of Ireland, since from her accent she appears not to be an Irish citizen?
GD

[rockofcashel]

Its no different to judges going easier on people because they're working class (its widely believed that many judges apply a kind of reverse snobbery, viewing working class violence as a product of society having failed the perpetrator, while viewing middle class violence as inexcusable thuggery).

I have to say Badinage, for someone who usually makes reasonable arguments, this is quite a stupid post.

Can you please explain the sentences handed down then in the "Annabels" case, where Blackrocks finest did a jig on a young mans head, or the lightness of the sentences handed down to the poor misguided middle class young men, former Irish tennis players don't you know, who half kicked a man to death in O' Connell Street last year.

I suppose its not worth even pointing out the huge amount of cases of "unfortunate young men, who make mistakes with a little too much boisterous behaviour (gallons of 'Ken)", that never see the inside of a court because Mummy and Daddy send down a good solicitor (to pave the way for the expensive barrister if necessary), and agrees that its best for the young mans future career (plus his J1 and year in Australia), if "something can be sorted out" without some frightful court business.

This is however a bad decision by the court.

The legal system should be blind (like the lady on the Four Courts), and every individual should be treated equally. This person should serve the full term handed down before consideration was made for his skin colour.

[FutureTaoiseach]

An example of the kind of Political-Correctness that has conquered the minds of the elites in this country.

[popper]

I wonder was it the same judge who let the other savage off for killing the baby during the botched circumcision?

[badinage]

Its no different to judges going easier on people because they're working class (its widely believed that many judges apply a kind of reverse snobbery, viewing working class violence as a product of society having failed the perpetrator, while viewing middle class violence as inexcusable thuggery).

I have to say Badinage, for someone who usually makes reasonable arguments, this is quite a stupid post.

Can you please explain the sentences handed down then in the "Annabels" case, where Blackrocks finest did a jig on a young mans head, or the lightness of the sentences handed down to the poor misguided middle class young men, former Irish tennis players don't you know, who half kicked a man to death in O' Connell Street last year.

I based my statement on opinions expressed by friends in the legal profession. (for example, solicitors recommending to working class people that they not dress up for court, as they'd be better off appearing destitute than comfortable, or a judge informing a middle class individual convicted of assault that he was nothing but a thug because he had all the advantages in life and still committed an assault).

I'm open to being corrected on it, of course, as there's nothing scientific about my conclusion or how it was reached. However, I don't consider listing off a tiny number of extremely high-profile cases to be more convincing than what friends in the profession have told me based on their experiences of hundreds or thousands of cases.

That said, I've definitely been told judges are now statute-bound to take drug addiction into consideration as a mitigating factor. Are you disagreeing with that?

I suppose its not worth even pointing out the huge amount of cases of "unfortunate young men, who make mistakes with a little too much boisterous behaviour (gallons of 'Ken)", that never see the inside of a court because Mummy and Daddy send down a good solicitor (to pave the way for the expensive barrister if necessary), and agrees that its best for the young mans future career (plus his J1 and year in Australia), if "something can be sorted out" without some frightful court business.

Well its not relevent to a discussion on judicial bias, no.

[FutureTaoiseach]

I wonder was it the same judge who let the other savage off for killing the baby during the botched circumcision?

No I am pretty certain the other one was Kevin Haugh.

[martan]

I wonder was it the same judge who let the other savage off for killing the baby during the botched circumcision?

I would be very interested to see a sentencing league table of sorts for all Circuit, District, High and of course Supreme & Criminal appeals Courts. I'd say that'd be very revealing.
Our legal system should be codified, rather than based on precedent such as it is.
Now, as to our Nigerian friend: will the DPP (is it his responsibility?) appeal the verdict? Would the Criminal Appeals Court increase the sentence? Or reduce it? Should a fuss be made?

Who is the DPP? Is his identity a big secret?

[ON THE ONE ROAD]

Its no different to judges going easier on people because they're working class (its widely believed that many judges apply a kind of reverse snobbery, viewing working class violence as a product of society having failed the perpetrator, while viewing middle class violence as inexcusable thuggery).

when john lonergan governor of mount joy says he can count on one hand where over 90% of his prisioners come from, i didn't think he was refering to blackrock, foxrock portmarnack and terenure.