Debate contribution: Sentencing Practices in Northern Ireland

Debate contribution by Mr Jonathan Buckley on 23 June 2025.

MLA

Mr Jonathan Buckley

Party at the time

Democratic Unionist Party

Date

23 June 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Sentencing Practices in Northern Ireland

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5046362

Read the official Assembly record

Text

First, I thank the Members who tabled the motion. The issue of lenient sentencing practices has concerned me for quite some time, and I have raised it in the House. From listening to the debate, I note that many Members from many political parties have expressed the same concern. In truth, our sentencing practices are in a failed state. They are crumbling, damaging public confidence and eroding trust that justice will ever be served. From listening to today's debate, I am conscious that there is a balancing act between, on the one hand, deterrent, and, on the other hand, rehabilitation. In truth, if we are being honest, we have failed at both. The statistic that nearly 80% of prisoners in Northern Ireland are repeat offenders should send shivers down the spine of any lawmaker in this place, because it shows that we have failed in both regards. I am often reminded of Einstein's quote:

"insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

Quite often, that is the approach that is adopted in the House when it comes to sentencing. I support some of the measures that are outlined in the motion, particularly ongoing professional training for judges. The perception — indeed, the reality — is that many judges are out of touch with the lived experiences of the constituents whom we represent. That is apparent in many of the court cases throughout the land that I read about. We talk about dangerous times. I argue that we are in an incredibly dangerous period of our history, with the digital age and criminal offences, particularly serious criminal offences. I will focus my remarks on serious sexual abuse. In the Chamber a few months ago, I quoted the latest figures from the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) that painted a horrifying picture. Crimes involving images of child sexual abuse have almost doubled in the past five years in Northern Ireland, with a staggering 98% increase in the past year. Offences have risen by 24%, with 859 cases being recorded by the PSNI in 2023-24. That means that, in the past five years, there have been 3,382 recorded crimes. It comes to the point that Mr McNulty made about the differential between online and physical contact. From dealing with constituents, my experience is that what starts off online quite often ends up with physical contact. The way in which our judiciary treats those predators is completely out of step with the lived reality of those in our communities. The deterrent is not strong enough. The rise in sexual abuse allegations and cases and, indeed, the need for community justice, as was pointed out by my colleague Ms Bunting, is a dangerous step in the road because people no longer have faith that our judiciary will deal with those people appropriately.

I thank the Member for his intervention, and I hope that the Minister will address that point in her remarks. I go back to my point: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results is endemic in how our justice system serves the general public. Of the 547 convictions for sex offences between 2019 and 2023, more than 90% received a sentence of less than five years. Is that not ridiculous, Members? Should we all not be collectively ashamed of that?

I note that the motion talks about the impact that lenient sentencing has on the victim. My colleague Mr Dunne raised it when he said that we have become victim-maker-led, rather than having a victim-centred approach, when it comes to sentencing. I have dealt with families who have had their lives turned upside down and ruined because of the sexual actions of predators who live in our community. It does not get any better when, in a number of years' time, the families see the same individuals on the streets again. Often those individuals are carrying out the same acts of violence, particularly among young women and girls. We can do better. There is a will in the House to see this right. I encourage Members to see that there is a balance to be struck. The public genuinely understand that different cases require different sentencing. I understand that, but I have a problem with the broad categories. Whether it is sexual violence or other crimes, we must be coordinated and consistent in categorising crimes and ensuring that there is a justice system that is fair for all but is victim-centred.

754 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 12:51 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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