What does a suspended sentence actually mean?

HIB · 24-01-2014 07:26PM #1

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/men-who-beat-taxi-driver-over-26-fare-avoid-jail-29947575.html

Two young guys beat up a taxi driver. Kick him around the head, steal his wallet and leave him unconscious on the ground.
In court, a number of character witnesses come forward to testify that this act was out of character for the accused.
Suspended sentences handed down. No jail time.

So, what happens to them? Do they have to report weekly to the guards or something? Are they refused a passport? Any concrete real element to this punishment? They did have to pay compensation, but the amounts seem pretty puny when compared to the injury caused, I think.

Santa Cruz · 24-01-2014 07:28PM

They got away with it. Maybe if they are caught for something else the sentence would be reactivated but that is a big if.

Stojkovic · 24-01-2014 07:30PM

First conviction.
Sure they're allowed at least 85 convictions.

Eutow · 24-01-2014 07:33PM

HIB wrote: »

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/men-who-beat-taxi-driver-over-26-fare-avoid-jail-29947575.html

Two young guys beat up a taxi driver. Kick him around the head, steal his wallet and leave him unconscious on the ground.
In court, a number of character witnesses come forward to testify that this act was out of character for the accused.
Suspended sentences handed down. No jail time.

So, what happens to them? Do they have to report weekly to the guards or something? Are they refused a passport? Any concrete real element to this punishment? They did have to pay compensation, but the amounts seem pretty puny when compared to the injury caused, I think.

Free to do the same thing again to somebody else. Their mother and the local parish priest more than likely said they were good kids who wouldn't hurt a fly. The usual cr@p.

ScumLord · 24-01-2014 07:33PM

HIB wrote: »

So, what happens to them? Do they have to report weekly to the guards or something? Are they refused a passport? Any concrete real element to this punishment? They did have to pay compensation, but the amounts seem pretty puny when compared to the injury caused, I think.

You don't have to sign in with the guards. It seems these days all the courts want is money and the fine is based on how much they think they can get out of you rather than a punishment.

mikom · 24-01-2014 07:35PM

HIB wrote: »

Two young guys beat up a taxi driver. Kick him around the head, steal his wallet and leave him unconscious on the ground.
Suspended sentences handed down. No jail time.
What does a suspended sentence actually mean?

They'll be in a taxi again, probably tonight, and possibly with someone you know driving it.

Meanwhile a garlic smuggler is probably warming the cell that these two violent animals should be residing in.

My name is URL · 24-01-2014 07:36PM

HIB wrote: »

What does a suspended sentence actually mean?

That there aren't enough prison spaces.

We really need to heavily invest in a few new prisons, otherwise we're in no position to complain about suspended sentences.

Outkast_IRE · 24-01-2014 07:37PM

Must be depressing to be a Garda put in a good amount of work into cases only for **** verdicts like this to be passed down.

And people question why I am a proponent of the 3 strikes system (with regards to violent crimes)

oldyouth · 24-01-2014 07:40PM

My name is URL wrote: »

That there aren't enough prison spaces.

We really need to heavily invest in a few new prisons, otherwise we're in no position to complain about suspended sentences.

No, we need to make prison unbearable, even if you only are in there for a month. Double up the cells and put a 'Bubba' in there with every new inmate.

Civil rights my hole

Amirani · 24-01-2014 07:45PM

oldyouth wrote: »

No, we need to make prison unbearable, even if you only are in there for a month. Double up the cells and put a 'Bubba' in there with every new inmate.

Civil rights my hole

You're in favour of putting people who are spending a month in prison (obviously something minor) in a position where they're likely to be raped or beaten?

What is wrong with you?

Penny Tration · 24-01-2014 07:47PM

oldyouth wrote: »

No, we need to make prison unbearable, even if you only are in there for a month. Double up the cells and put a 'Bubba' in there with every new inmate.

Civil rights my hole

Yeah because rape is a fair and just punishment. Ffs.

Nodin · 24-01-2014 07:47PM

oldyouth wrote: »

No, we need to make prison unbearable, even if you only are in there for a month. Double up the cells and put a 'Bubba' in there with every new inmate.

Civil rights my hole

People did that for a few hundred years and it didn't work. Neither did torture, maiming, transportation and death by various gruesome methods.

HIB · 24-01-2014 07:49PM

Eutow wrote: »

Their mother and the local parish priest more than likely said they were good kids who wouldn't hurt a fly. The usual cr@p.

Paul Curran, the Dublin footballer apparently acted as a character witness for one of them. He apparently comes from a "respectable family", whatever that means, and he was drunk.

It doesn't actually mention any character witnesses specific to the other guy actually. But, he's hoping to get a job as an apprentice carpenter. He's 20 now , and the assault took place nearly two years ago, so he was 18 at the time. What's he been doing with the past two years I wonder?

Dubwat · 24-01-2014 07:51PM

from the Indo article:

The court heard that Mr MacEoin has also lost €18,000 in earnings since the assault and is now nervous working the taxi at night. His relationship with his children has suffered because he didn't want to talk about what happened to him.

Judge Ring ordered Daly to pay €2,000 in compensation to the victim over the next year. Daly previously paid €5,000 over as a token of his remorse. The judge ordered Murphy, who is unemployed, to pay another €500 on top of €1,500 he has already paid.

Can the taxi driver take a civil case against the two 'gentlemen' for the missing €11,000?

murpho999 · 24-01-2014 07:51PM

oldyouth wrote: »

No, we need to make prison unbearable, even if you only are in there for a month. Double up the cells and put a 'Bubba' in there with every new inmate.

Civil rights my hole

Yes, of course, sure when prisons were unbearable they were empty weren' they? Totally prevented crime.

Whole justice system needs to change.

As does as our education and social system, long term goals to eliminate the skanger classes that constantly get into trouble.

We need a more just, socially inclusive society to prevent this happening, not just locking people up as it does not solve anything but make criminals harder.

anncoates · 24-01-2014 07:52PM

The sentence is suspended for a set time and if they reoffend within that time, it's (supposedly) actually imposed.

HIB · 24-01-2014 07:56PM

NiallSparky wrote: »

You're in favour of putting people who are spending a month in prison (obviously something minor) in a position where they're likely to be raped or beaten?

What is wrong with you?

I'm inclined to agree that this is a bit extreme!
However, there should be some punishment. The victim must feel appalled by this. A suspended sentence should mean something ...

One idea:

Community service of 8 hours a week (i.e. every Saturday) for the duration of the sentence. The guy wants to be a carpenter..... send him into the army workshops every Sat. If he doesn't show, or they're unhappy with his effort, the remainder of the sentence is served in gaol.

anncoates · 24-01-2014 07:58PM

"Sarah Jane O’Callaghan BL, defending Daly, said he co-operated with gardai and helped them retrieve the stolen wallet with all the cash. She handed in a number of “glowing” testimonials including one from former Dublin footballer Paul Curran."

LOL

Twiki · 24-01-2014 08:00PM

Will they still have a criminal record or will that be wiped if they stay out of trouble for the three years?

HIB · 24-01-2014 08:02PM

anncoates wrote: »

"Sarah Jane O’Callaghan BL, defending Daly, said he co-operated with gardai and helped them retrieve the stolen wallet with all the cash. She handed in a number of “glowing” testimonials including one from former Dublin footballer Paul Curran."

LOL

I know!:rolleyes:

Helped them retrieve...... "Oh wait, here it is, in my back pocket. Let me just wipe the blood of it there for you."

Pro Hoc Vice · 24-01-2014 08:04PM

Twiki wrote: »

Will they still have a criminal record or will that be wiped if they stay out of trouble for the three years?

They will remain with a conviction for life, unless the spent convictions bill becomes law.

anncoates · 24-01-2014 08:04PM

HIB wrote: »

I know!:rolleyes:

Helped them retrieve...... "Oh wait, here it is, in my back pocket. Let me just wipe the blood of it there for you."

"Well yes judge, i understand that he kicked a man's teeth out in an unprovoked attack and robbed him but it was a misunderstanding as he likes the same sport as me and I'm famous so he's a grand lad really".

anncoates · 24-01-2014 08:05PM

Twiki wrote: »

Will they still have a criminal record or will that be wiped if they stay out of trouble for the three years?

Any conviction is a record.

mikom · 24-01-2014 08:07PM

anncoates wrote: »

"Sarah Jane O’Callaghan BL, defending Daly, said he co-operated with gardai and helped them retrieve the stolen wallet with all the cash. She handed in a number of “glowing” testimonials including one from former Dublin footballer Paul Curran."

LOL

Should have had a Cork player on the prosecution side roaring over "He's not a good boy, he's a gowl".

Renegade Mechanic · 24-01-2014 08:08PM

green_screen wrote: »

Yeah because rape is a fair and just punishment. Ffs.

Depends on the crime. No tv license? Oh ho ho ho bend over, buddy..

oldyouth · 24-01-2014 08:09PM

NiallSparky wrote: »

You're in favour of putting people who are spending a month in prison (obviously something minor) in a position where they're likely to be raped or beaten?

What is wrong with you?

Perhaps my example was a bit extreme, anger brought on by countless examples of watching skangers getting away with ruining people's lives. Not everyone can recover mentally from getting a hiding, yet the perpetrators know that if their actions ever see a courtroom, they will be out in time for tea. I have been present in court too many times watching total bullies run rings around a system that they know better than the solicitors

If prison was a proper deterrent, then perhaps many crimes would not be committed

No Pants · 24-01-2014 08:10PM

HIB wrote: »

Paul Curran, the Dublin footballer apparently acted as a character witness for one of them.

I don't understand how these are in any way relevant. Unless Curran was involved in some way.

anncoates · 24-01-2014 08:20PM

No Pants wrote: »

I don't understand how these are in any way relevant. Unless Curran was involved in some way.

Lad will probably get a trial with a top club based on his committed and physical man marking.

Nino Brown · 24-01-2014 08:24PM

Nodin wrote: »

People did that for a few hundred years and it didn't work. Neither did torture, maiming, transportation and death by various gruesome methods.

Well letting people away with it doesn't work either. And I think maiming worked pretty well, if you cut somebody's arm off it makes a lot of crimes pretty tricky. I'm pretty sure killing people also stopped them from committing crimes.
People say prison doesn't work, but it does, if a thief is locked up for 10 years, that's 10 years he's not robbing somebody, sound effective to me.

24-01-2014 08:26PM

My name is URL wrote: »

That there aren't enough prison spaces.

We really need to heavily invest in a few new prisons, otherwise we're in no position to complain about suspended sentences.

What we need is to stop jailing people for sh!te like tv licences or debts

Nino Brown · 24-01-2014 08:28PM

bluewolf wrote: »

What we need is to stop jailing people for sh!te like tv licences or debts

I agree, but there has to be a deterrent to not paying your debts too, they should just take what you owe out of SW payments, or direct from salary, plus a fine, and keep prison empty for the scumbags.

What does a suspended sentence actually mean?

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