Review of sex abuse sentences

The Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, intends undertaking a review of sentencing for sexual offences "with a view to increasing…

The Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, intends undertaking a review of sentencing for sexual offences "with a view to increasing the sentences".

Speaking on RTE, he said he would be carrying out the review in the context of the new Sexual Offences Bill.

He said he had given such an undertaking to Ms Sorcha McKenna last week. Ms McKenna has protested at the leniency of a three-year sentence given to her father, Vincent McKenna, who was convicted last month on 31 counts of sexual and indecent assault against her over nine years.

On Monday, the DPP lodged an appeal against McKenna's sentence. After the trial, Ms McKenna began a campaign for mandatory 10-year sentences for convicted sex offenders and called on the DPP to appeal her father's sentence. A petition she organised was signed by some 100,000 people. She handed it to Mr O'Donoghue on Friday at his Dublin offices.

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Mr O'Donoghue said on radio yesterday he had been "very impressed" by Ms McKenna's honesty and the passion she had brought to bear on what she felt was wrong.

Ms McKenna's uncle, Mr Tom McCleary, said last night the family was "absolutely delighted" with the DDP's action and the review promised.

McKenna had been a prominent member of Families Against Intimidation and Terror.