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Ireland: Sentencing Rapists

01 September 1992

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Judge Feargus Flood has caused a public furore by adjourning sentence on a rapist who had pleaded guilty. The 18-year old man, William Conroy from Kilkenny, was allowed to walk free from the court on 15 July after Flood told him he was "giving him a chance as a human being". Following the judge's decision the victim, Lavinia Kerwick, publicly protested that Conroy had been freed, saying, "I just could not believe it. He might as well have raped me again yesterday". The case has highlighted once again the vast differences in judges' punishment of rapists which range from life to suspended sentences. Some women's groups are demanding mandatory sentencing for rape but the Minister for Justice has promised instead to introduce legislation allowing the DPP to appeal against a lenient sentence.

The Sunday Tribune 26 July 1992 gives a digest of rape cases heard by the Central Circuit Court from July 1991 to July 1992.

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