State argues prison sentences in Munster abuse case were 'too lenient'

Mr Justice Edwards noted the 'sheer horror' of this case, while Ms Justice Kennedy said that there had been 'a gross breach of trust'

Mr Justice Paul McDermott at the Central Criminal Court imposed sentences of between nine and 15 years on three family members in 2022. File picture

The State has argued that sentences of between nine and 15 years that were imposed on three family members jailed as part of the Munster abuse trial, in what was described by a judge as a case of “sheer horror” featuring the rape and sexual exploitation of young children, were too lenient.

“You can in some cases consider life in prison, and that is how bad this case was,” said counsel for the State Bernard Condon SC, bringing the appeals before the Court of Appeal on Thursday on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions.