Criminal sentencing - Time for TDs to stay away from courts

THE credibility and judgment of politicians is once more in question following the perplexing failure of political parties to hammer out a code of conduct on the thorny issue of making representations on behalf of criminals being sentenced in the courts.

Few topics arouse greater public concern than the unacceptable spectacle of politicians engaging in special pleading for criminals. While a person charged with offences is entitled to call in character evidence for consideration by the court, politicians should only become involved in exceptional cases, if at all.

Controversy erupted earlier this year when it emerged that Labour TD Kathleen Lynch had written to a judge in a rape case, saying the perpetrator came of a decent family. His parents had asked her to write the letter for the court, hoping it might have a bearing on the case.