Ahern considers prison terms for burglars

THE Government yesterday signalled it was considering mandatory jail terms for criminals who break into people’s homes.

Justice Minister Dermot Ahern said he had not ruled out tougher laws, a day after the grandfather of magician Keith Barry died following a robbery.

But Mr Ahern warned judges have the final say: “We have endeavoured to bring in mandatory sentencing in relation to serious drug offences and to a certain extent it hasn’t worked well because of the independence of the judiciary and because each case is different.

“Sometimes there’s extenuating circumstances where if you have a mandatory sentence it would be somewhat unfair... But I’m not closing my mind to it.”

Although it was feared 82-year-old Mr Barry had been the victim of a violent assault during a robbery at his home last Wednesday, an autopsy revealed his head injuries were not consistent with an assault and were likely from a fall.

Senior gardaí said despite the post mortem the robbery and subsequent death were very serious.

Mr Barry’s grandson Keith hit out at the justice system in the wake of the burglary and called for mandatory three-year sentences for criminals who break into pensioners’ homes.

Mr Ahern said there were already tough laws in place to deal with burglaries, with criminals facing up to 14 years behind bars or life if they commit the offence with a weapon or use violence.

Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy vowed to bring those responsible to justice.

Meanwhile, Mr Ahern launched two new websites to help victims of crime.

Operated by the Government’s Victims of Crime Office and Commission for the Support of Victims of Crime, they will provide support and contact details of voluntary groups helping those affected by criminal behaviour.

Mr Ahern said new legislation for victims should be enacted by the end of the year. The Criminal Procedure Bill 2008, currently in the Seanad, will:

* Allow the next-of-kin in homicide cases to issue victim impact statements.

* Reform double jeopardy by allowing cases to be re- opened after an acquittal on a point of law or new evidence.

* Allow new prosecutions if original acquittals were tainted by interference or intimidation of witnesses.

* www.victimsofcrimeoffice.ie and www.csvc.ie