A COUNTY Limerick deputy has called on the Minister for Justice to introduce a mandatory sentencing system for the “subhuman” criminals who use force during burglaries.
Deputy Patrick O’Donovan believes that there should not be a “yellow card system”, whereby mandatory sentencing only kicks in after the first crime.
“There should be no remission and no early release for those who use force,” he told the Limerick Post.
“People are breaking into houses in full knowledge that someone is there and they are bringing equipment with them to tie the residents up or injure them; It’s appalling.
“I’d liken it to the tiger kidnappings”.
Speaking in the Dail Deputy O’Donovan said victims in isolated rural areas are “waiting for the next time some criminal walks in their gate.
“There should be no remission for these people who need to be exorcised from society”.
He referred, in particular, to cases in rural communities in light of recent crimes.
“The time has come for the introduction of mandatory sentencing for those found guilty of committing an act of burglary and who intended to use physical force against the occupant of the house.
“These are not just burglars or criminals, these people are some sort of subhuman beings.
“They should not be eligible for early release.
“They should serve the full sentence, which should be mandatory and reflect the scale of the crime they have perpetrated – not only on elderly or vulnerable persons living alone who may be intellectually or physically disabled, but also on the wider community which they have left in fear”.
He was supported by Deputy Dara Calleary.
Speaking in the Dail on behalf of the Minister for Justice, Minister of State, Dinny McGinley, said the Garda Commissioner has introduced a wide range of measures aimed at tackling gangs involved in burglaries.
“Prevention is also a key issue in tackling burglary and the national crime prevention unit and crime prevention officers at a divisional level provide advice, information and support”.
He added that the Attorney General asked the Law Reform Commission to examine the issue of mandatory sentencing.
“The LRC has invited submissions from interested parties before it prepares its final report.
“The minister will examine and consider the LRC’s recommendations as soon as the final report is available”.
