paul murray fraudster

gustafo

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0721/breaking56.html

i thought this was a bit of a long sentence for a crime like this what do you think

at the end of the day nobody died or was seriously injured

DB10

Looks like the judge might be unhappy his pay will be soon cut, and doesnt like where it has been going to.

There is no reasonable explanation for that sentence. Most rapists and murderers wont even serve that long in this country, last week a woman who tortured her children over a numbers of years only got something like 6 years with the rest suspended, and yet this is worth twice that sentance?

Considering the fact he is unlikely to re-offend and an old enough man, its just another clown like decision from this countries laughable justice system. Where some judges rarely give prison sentances and others give them for every crime.

And with prisons way overcrowded, another space gone for 12 years. Hopefully the sentence is slashed in half on appeal.

blueythebear

gustafo wrote: »

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0721/breaking56.html

i thought this was a bit of a long sentence for a crime like this what do you think

at the end of the day nobody died or was seriously injured

I don't think it's that surprising considering the State of the country's finances. A message had to be sent that welfare fraud will not be tolerated. He had done the same thing in the UK before and he also was warned before he last returned from Thailand. Had he remained in Thailand, he would have gotten away with it but he still came back in October last to claim another round of payments.

He was given 6 months consecutively for 25 charges of theft. These were only sample charges so there would have been many more (one for every time he obtained social welfare under a false name I imagine).

Ironically though, it would be costing more to the State now to keep him in prison for 12 years than any amount he ever stole. A more suitable punishment may be 3 years and a garnishee order to pay back the money he stole although how that would work for a chap on Social Welfare (which he would inevitably be after prison), I don't know.

blueythebear

DB10 wrote: »

And with prisons way overcrowded, another space gone for 12 years. Hopefully the sentence is slashed in half on appeal.

Leave was not granted to appeal the severity of the sentence. 6 months for a theft charge is not an unusual sentence. The fact that the judge made them consecutive is unusual but the judge has discretion to do so I believe.

McCrack

I think the newspaper is misleading here.

I would be quite sure the court imposed 6 months on each of the 25 sample charges to run concurrently and the 3 years for the false passport to run consecutively.

3.5 years in total.

metrovelvet

Child molesters and people who beat and rape their own kids dont get anywhere near that.

This country is bizarre.

maxxie

Where is the message being sent out to the bank chiefs who robbed us for years! ?

MagicSean

maxxie wrote: »

Where is the message being sent out to the bank chiefs who robbed us for years! ?

Surely they would have to be charged and convicted before this judge could send them to prison? He can only deal with the case before him.

surely the point is not that he got a long sentence compared to 'rapists, child molestors and murderers' but that those particular offenders get sentences that are way too lenient??

Victor

While the sentence does seem long, it is because of the level of pre-meditation and hte length of tiem the behaviour went on. It wasn't a group of related offences stemming from one incident (e.g. an armed robber being also charge with firearms offences and assault).

I wonder if the judge disbelieved the accused's expression of remorse.

coylemj

Victor wrote: »

I wonder if the judge disbelieved the accused's expression of remorse.

Highly likely that any expression of remorse cut no ice with the judge because (1) he was at it for so long (2) had already been convicted and served a prison sentence in the UK for similar offences and (3) the whole escapade required quite an amount of planning with fake passports and multiple bank accounts.

Reloc8

I would hold fire until its actually confirmed that he got a 12 stretch.

McCrack wrote: »

I think the newspaper is misleading here.

I would be quite sure the court imposed 6 months on each of the 25 sample charges to run concurrently and the 3 years for the false passport to run consecutively.

3.5 years in total.

That's my impression as well, noting that they don't report the fatal word 'to run consecutively' in respect of the 6 month sentences.


I reckon he got 3 and a half.

McCrack

It was on the news yesterday evening that he was sentenced to 12 years so I am assuming now the sentences were concurrent.

On the face of it I would find that an excessive sentence but good enough for him.

coylemj

McCrack wrote: »

It was on the news yesterday evening that he was sentenced to 12 years so I am assuming now the sentences were concurrent.

On the face of it I would find that an excessive sentence but good enough for him.

I think you're contradicting yourself or you meant to use the work 'consecutive'. If the sentences were concurrent he'd only he doing 6 months which by the tone of your second sentence you would regard as far too lenient.

Shelflife

I hope that it is 12.5 years, its time that a message was sent out about crime in this country, and yes it is long compared to all the above mentioned crimes so id be delighted if we could make those crimes punishable by even longer sentences.

Too soft for too long, time to nail the criminals.