Retiring judge hits out over sentences criticism

A retiring judge yesterday criticised some sectors of the media for swingeing attacks on sentences imposed by courts rather than addressing the more complex area of reintroducing prisoners to society on their release from jail.

Judge David Riordan said the criticism of sentencing is a paradigm that may sell newspapers but does not make society safer — and may in fact create a less safe society.

Judge Riordan chose the occasion of his retirement from the bench to highlight difficulties associated with the reintroduction of prisoners to society after sentences. He said little attention was paid to the valuable work done by people supporting ex-prisoners trying to get back into society.