Does a life sentence actually mean life sometimes

Caranica

I read this article about the state's longest serving prisoner, received a life sentence in 1978.

State's longest serving prisoner appealing after losing bid for two temporary release days a year https://jrnl.ie/4447359

Have never heard of a life sentence actually meaning life in this country before, and we've had some very nasty murders. Has there been a change in the law since this man was sentenced or just a change in attitude?

Riskymove

They were both always considered to remain a threat if released

The article mentions some of the things said about Shaw in reports

You also apply to be released (or at least you used to have to)

Jimmy Ennis holds the record for the longest time spent in prison for a crime.

He spent 52 years in prison. He was 35 when convicted of murdering a farmer during a robbery in 1964.

He was released two years ago. He always refused to apply for release, explaining that he preferred to continue working in the Shelton Abbey prison garden. He did odd jobs for locals, returning to prison at night.

jim o doom

I had a bit of a read of this case earlier, it seems that following psychological review he was deemed unsafe to release to the public.

The article listed the following information related to 2016: "The following June, a dynamic risk assessment of Shaw found him to be at a “high-level risk of re-offending”. Areas of particular concern to the assessors were “poor problem-solving skills; negative emotionality; deviant sexual preference; cooperation with supervision; significant social influences; hostility towards women; general social rejection; and lack of concern for others.”"

Seems like he would still be a danger to the public, and women in particular if released, so actual life imprisonment makes sense.

Caranica

Oh I'm very glad he's not out, but we're so used to seeing life meaning anything from 7-22 years served that I was stunned (and relieved) by this.

It made me wonder if there had been a change in the definition of life imprisonment. Will Joe O'Reilly, Graham Dwyer or any other lifers serve anything close to as long as Shaw?

Riskymove

Caranica wrote: »

It made me wonder if there had been a change in the definition of life imprisonment. Will Joe O'Reilly, Graham Dwyer or any other lifers serve anything close to as long as Shaw?

Joe O'Reilly won't anyway I'd say. Any case like that, the person is probably not seen as a threat to the public generally

ohnonotgmail

Caranica wrote: »

Oh I'm very glad he's not out, but we're so used to seeing life meaning anything from 7-22 years served that I was stunned (and relieved) by this.

It made me wonder if there had been a change in the definition of life imprisonment. Will Joe O'Reilly, Graham Dwyer or any other lifers serve anything close to as long as Shaw?

the average life sentence served is 22 years.

Carawaystick

Met Mr Ennis at work once, on a site I was working on, only found out after who he was.

L1011

The 7 year life sentence while still possible has really died out - there may still be some but it used to be the majority 30+ years ago

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/average-life-sentence-up-to-two-decades-from-7-years-in-1980s-1.2181655 has some details.

The standard joke in a former employer was "I'd have done less for murder..." when you were there 7 years - which was clearly getting more and more inaccurate as the years went on. I "got let out" (resigned) at 6.5 :pac: