Lenient sentence for sex offence brings judiciary into disrepute, Dáil told

The public does not trust judges and the recent lenient sentencing of a sex offender has brought the judiciary into “disrepute”, it has been claimed.

Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald made the remarks after criticism raised over the two-and-a-half-year jail sentence given to former journalist Tom Humphries for the grooming and sexual abuse of a child.

Her remarks about the judiciary were accompanied by calls for a sentencing council so judges get guidelines for jail lengths for different crimes.