Sentencing policy must be reviewed

The case of a 16-year-old convicted of sexually assaulting five women and threatened to murder and “rape like a dog” another woman must pose a serious question in relation to the sentencing policy in such cases.

He was placed on the sex offenders’ register and sentenced to two years’ detention when he appeared in Dundalk Circuit Court.

If that is the maximum sentence allowed under legislation, then there is a glaring need to have it reviewed.

Despite the youth’s age, he waged a horrendous reign of terror against the women before he was finally apprehended by diligent police work.

A striking point made in the course of the case was that a psychiatric report failed to throw any light on his behaviour and the court was told that he appeared to be “normal”.

Two years’ detention would appear exceptionally lenient, even allowing for the youth’s age. It can only be hoped that in the course of his detention he will be given treatment and counselling to make him less of a threat to society when he is released.