The sentencing of a teenage boy who murdered a woman in Dublin was adjourned today as a result of what was described as a "yawning gap" in the relevant law.
The mandatory life sentence doesn't apply to child murderers, but the law doesn't specify what powers a judge has if a review is built into a longer sentence.
Following a retrial, the boy was convicted of murdering Uransetseg Tserendorj as she made her way home from work in the IFSC during a lockdown two years ago.
He was just 14 at the time, so he can never be identified.
Mandatory life sentences don’t apply to child murderers. In the past, they’ve been given sentences with built-in review dates.
In this case, Mr Justice Tony Hunt wanted to hand down a life sentence, with a review after thirteen years, but the law doesn’t address what powers a judge has when that date comes round – something he described as a “yawning gap” in the legislation.
As it stands, it’s unclear whether a reviewing judge in thirteen years could suspend the rest of, or a portion of, the boy’s remaining sentence.
Mr Justice Hunt said the “time is ripe” for a review of the law, and agreed to adjourn sentencing for a fortnight to give the defence time to consider the issue.
Reporting by Frank Greaney
