Courts / Ireland / Report
Prisoners who were children when they carried out murders want more time to appeal life sentences
Summary
Three men serving life sentences for murders committed as teenagers have sought an extension of time to appeal their sentences, arguing that the law is inconsistent and unfair. The men, who were 17 when they committed the murders, were sentenced to life in prison but the 2024 amendment to the Criminal Justice Act removed the mandatory life sentence for those under 18. The applicants claim that the law's reliance on the date of sentencing is arbitrary and that they were denied the opportunity to appeal the mandatory life sentence. Counsel for the men argued that the law should allow for appeals based on the exceptional circumstances of each case, rather than the date of sentencing. The State's representatives countered that the men's appeals had been dismissed and that the judgments had become final. The court reserved judgment on the application for an extension of time, with the judge noting that the case would be considered in the interest of justice. The unnamed 25-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Prisoners who were children when they carried out murders want more time to appeal life sentences. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- March 2025 Hearing Or Sentence
- March 19, 2011 Hearing Or Sentence
- June 22 Incident
- May 19 Hearing Or Sentence
- May 21, 2012 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2026-04-16 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: Each man was sentenced to life in prison, but the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2024 removed this mandatory life sentence for individuals who commit murder while under 18 but turn 18 before sentencing. There was also a landmark Supreme Court decision delivered by Ms Justice Iseult O'Malley in March 2025, in which the court found that life sentences for a child convicted of murder should only be imposed in exceptional cases where the evidence showed the intentions and actions of the child were akin to those of an adult.
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
- Supreme Court
- Butler Park
- Jobstown Park
Topics
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