Taoiseach says more prison places needed to allow longer sentences after Puska case

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said 'if people want dangerous people locked up for a long time, we're going to need more room in our prisons'. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins Photos

The Taoiseach has called for more prison spaces in a bid to allow judges impose minimum sentences.

During Friday's sentencing of Ashling Murphy's murderer Josef Puska, Justice Tony Hunt noted that while he had the power to sentence the killer, he did not have the power to impose a minimum stay in prison, a common practice in other countries.