Press Release – The recent decision by the DPP

The recent decision by the DPP goes a long way to restoring the confidence of the victims of sexual crimes in the criminal justice system

Last month Justice Desmond Hogan handed down a 6 year sentence to Anthony Lyons when he was found guilty of a serious sexual assault on a woman on Griffith Avenue.  The judge went on to suspend 5½ years  of this sentence and ordered the accused to pay the victim €75,00.00 in compensation.                 

Ellen O’Malley-Dunlop Chief Executive of DRCC said: “This very unusual sentence caused enormous hurt and upset among the many victims of sexual crimes and brought into question whether or not those victims who were pursuing alleged perpetrators in the criminal justice system would get justice at the end of the harrowing court process.

It is extremely important that the victims of rape and sexual assault are encouraged to stay the course of the criminal justice system and are confident that justice will be done at the end of the day.  It is extremely important that the perpetrators and potential perpetrators of these heinous crimes will get the very strong message that they will not get away with these crimes and will be punished appropriately and fairly when found guilty in court. Justice Hogan’s decision to suspend 5½ years of the 6 year sentence had the effect of questioning the consistency and fairness of sentencing in our criminal justice system. 

The decision by the DPP to appeal the six months served time to the court of criminal appeal on the grounds of it being unduly lenient, goes a long way to redressing the upheaval and questioning that was caused by Justice Hogan’s decision to suspend 5½ years of the 6 year sentence. The DRCC welcomes the DPP’s decision and hopes that anyone who may have thought of dropping out of the criminal justice system as a result of Justice Hogan’s decision will be reassured by the DPP’s decision and will stay the course and get justice for themselves.”

  ENDS

 For further information please contact:

Ellen O’Malley-Dunlop, Chief Executive, DRCC. 01 6614911 / 086 809 9618