Rapist was entitled under law to be on bail, says judge

THE judge who sentenced Joseph Cummins to 15 years in prison for the brutal rape and robbery of a Tipperary pensioner said he was not out on bail at the time of the offence as a result of “soft sentencing” by members of the judiciary.

Mr Justice Paul Carney yesterday took care to stress that Cummins was entitled “as of right” under the law to be at liberty at the time of the offence.

“There is no question of judges going soft,” he said.