D.P.P.-v- RMcC [2005] IECCA 71 (12 May 2005)

D.P.P.-v- RMcC [2005] IECCA 71 (12 May 2005)

The offences were of such exceptional gravity that the imposition of eight concurrent life sentences was justified under section 29 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1999, notwithstanding the appellant's early guilty plea and otherwise good character. No error of principle or objective bias was found in the sentencing process.

Citation
[2005] IECCA 71
Parties
Prosecutor: Director of Public Prosecutions; Appellant: R McC
Jurisdiction
Ireland
Judgment Date
12 May 2005
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal / Appeal Against Sentence
Outcome
Appeal dismissed, sentence affirmed
Legal Topics
Sentencing, Rape, Sexual Offences, Mitigating Factors, Concurrent Sentences, Life Imprisonment

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Parties

Director of Public Prosecutions

Prosecutor

R McC

Appellant

Procedural Posture

Criminal Appeal / Appeal Against Sentence

  1. 1 Whether the trial judge erred in principle by imposing eight concurrent life sentences for rape counts
  2. 2 Whether failure to give credit for early guilty plea and good character constituted an error of principle
  3. 3 Whether the judge's reference to prior case law indicated objective bias

Ratio Decidendi

The offences were of such exceptional gravity that the imposition of eight concurrent life sentences was justified under section 29 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1999, notwithstanding the appellant's early guilty plea and otherwise good character. No error of principle or objective bias was found in the sentencing process.

Court Disposition

Appeal dismissed, sentence affirmed

Orders

  • Appeal dismissed
  • Sentences imposed in the Central Criminal Court affirmed