Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi all! We have been experiencing an issue on site where threads have been missing the latest postings. The platform host Vanilla are working on this issue. A workaround that has been used by some is to navigate back from 1 to 10+ pages to re-sync the thread and this will then show the latest posts. Thanks, Mike.
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

70 previous convictions.

  • 28-02-2020 12:42am
    #1
    Steve
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,584 ✭✭✭✭


    This is a general question on how the Irish legal systems keeps records of convictions and who can access it.

    So, say 'Paddy Murphy' (fictitious) is convicted of a crime, is there a public record of this?

    Are Irish citizens able or legally entitled to view this anywhere?

    It is often reported in mainstream media that 'Paddy Murphy' was in court over so-and-so and had '70 previous convictions'. How do the journalists know this?


Comments

  • #2
    Fann Linn
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,819 ✭✭✭Fann Linn


    Steve wrote: »
    This is a general question on how the Irish legal systems keeps records of convictions and who can access it.

    So, say 'Paddy Murphy' (fictitious) is convicted of a crime, is there a public record of this?

    Are Irish citizens able or legally entitled to view this anywhere?

    It is often reported in mainstream media that 'Paddy Murphy' was in court over so-and-so and had '70 previous convictions'. How do the journalists know this?


    The prosecuting garda is normally asked in court.


  • #3
    Mervyn Skidmore
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,133 ✭✭✭Mervyn Skidmore


    If he or she is convicted or pleads guilty, the judge will ask for a record of previous convictions before sentencing.


  • #4
    Steve
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,584 ✭✭✭✭Steve


    Fann Linn wrote: »
    The prosecuting garda is normally asked in court.

    Yes, that's what I heard.

    Problem with that right there is it seems the garda has access to information that the judge does not??

    How does that work?

    Surely a sentencing judge should be expected to rely on information directly available to them?

    But I digress..

    My question remains, if a convicted criminal is convicted, is there a public record of it?


  • #5
    Steve
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,584 ✭✭✭✭Steve


    Mervyn Skidmore wrote: »
    If he or she is convicted or pleads guilty, the judge will ask for a record of previous convictions before sentencing.

    Ask who?


  • #6
    Fann Linn
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,819 ✭✭✭Fann Linn


    Steve wrote: »
    Yes, that's what I heard.

    Problem with that right there is it seems the garda has access to information that the judge does not??

    How does that work?

    Surely a sentencing judge should be expected to rely on information directly available to them?

    But I digress..

    My question remains, if a convicted criminal is convicted, is there a public record of it?

    I've seen gardai in the witness box with reems of sheets of convictions for offenders and naming off dates and courts and fines of previous for same. It would be impossible for any judge to have prior knowledge for some of the 'usual suspects'' as their lists of convictions are so long.


  • Advertisement
  • #7
    Peregrinus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,690 ✭✭✭✭Peregrinus


    Steve wrote: »
    Yes, that's what I heard.

    Problem with that right there is it seems the garda has access to information that the judge does not??

    How does that work?

    Surely a sentencing judge should be expected to rely on information directly available to them?
    Not at all. Other way round, in fact. Just as in trying the offence, in sentencing for an offence the judge only operates off information that has been presented in open court.
    Steve wrote: »
    My question remains, if a convicted criminal is convicted, is there a public record of it?
    Yes and no.

    Yes, in the sense that there is a record of it, maintained by public officials.

    No, in the sense that the record is not freely available to the general public.


Advertisement