Torture, rape and abuse with no remorse — and we’ve set him free

WE are still living in a country with a Tír na n-Óg attitude to time, at least in a legal context. Why else would one of the most evil men who was ever forced into an Irish courtroom serve just nine years of the 238 years he earned for his horrific crimes?

The dichotomy in the case of Joseph McColgan, who pleaded guilty to 26 token charges of physical and sexual abuse against his own children, was that the total of the sentences was made concurrent, rather than consecutive, and so in practical terms did not reflect the horror of what he did.

He was eventually sentenced to 12 years but with remission he was released this week after serving a paltry nine years.