Courts / Ireland / Report
Court sets out range of sentences for witness intimidation
Summary
In a written ruling on 8 February 2021, the Court of Appeal, comprising Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly, Mr Justice John Edwards and Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, set out a sentencing framework for witness intimidation. The court identified a low, middle and upper range of seriousness. The maximum sentence is 15 years. For the upper range, judges should consider 10 to 15 years when there is evidence of serious or ongoing harm to the victim, involvement of two or more persons, organised crime, a sustained campaign, or accompanying offences such as false imprisonment, or when there is potential for serious harm to the administration of justice. The middle range, 5 to 10 years, applies where there is evidence of planning, the offence occurs at the victim's home, work or place of study, or is accompanied by criminal damage, threats of violence, actual violence or a weapon, or where harm is caused to the victim or the criminal justice process.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Court sets out range of sentences for witness intimidation. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- 2021-02-08 Publication
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
Topics
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