Vol. 450 No. 6
18 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Justice the number of cases which have been appealed for leniency of sentence to the Court of Criminal Appeal at the instigation of the DPP since the introduction of the legislation providing for such appeals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5478/95]
I understand from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions that two cases have been appealed under the legislation mentioned. The first such appeal was heard in the Court of Criminal Appeal on 7 November 1994 in respect of a sentence imposed by the Central Criminal Court. That appeal was refused and the sentence was allowed to stand.
The second appeal which relates to a sentence imposed by the Dublin Circuit Court is currently pending before the Court of Criminal Appeal.
I am satisfied that a procedure is in place which allows the DPP to apply for review of a sentence which he considers to be unduly lenient and I believe that this procedure will help to bring about greater consistency in sentencing in the longer term.
