DPP urged to appeal six-month sentence for sex offender

Fresh controversy surrounds the case of sex offender Anthony Lyons after it emerged his six-year sentence can only be reactivated if he reoffends within two years of his release, rather than during the full six-year period.

The Rape Crisis Network of Ireland described the decision by the sentencing judge as “extraordinary”, saying it was the norm in sex offence cases to actually extend the good behaviour period beyond the actual term of the sentence.

The network has called on the Director of Public Prosecutions to appeal the sentence handed down to Lyons, claiming the mitigating factors for cutting his custodial sentence by five and a half years are not present.