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False accounting contrary to s. 17(1)(a) Theft Act (NI) 1969 - false statements contrary to s. 105A(1) of the Social Security Administration (NI) Act 1992 – imposition of confiscation orders – whether court had jurisdiction order under POCA 2002 – whether amounts confiscated proportionate – Held that 2002 Act applied but amounts disproportionate and new amounts substituted.
2015 NICA 31 Morgan LCJ
Fraud by false representation – whether probation element of combination order wrong in principle – probation element quashed and guidance given on proper procedure.
2015 NICA 15 Girvan LJ
Sexual activity with a child – 3 year determinate sentence comprising 18 months’ imprisonment and 18 on licence – 5 year SOPO – Sentencing Court’s reliance on Sentencing Council Guidelines – guidance from decided authorities in NI more reliable than Council Guidelines - 2 year sentence substituted – 12 & 12 – whether SOPO proportionate – that issue remitted to trial court to reconsider.
2015 NICA 14 Morgan LCJ
Convictions under s. 3(1)(b) of the Explosive Substances Act 1883, and article 58(1) of the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 – whether forfeiture order in respect of motorbike lawful – title to the item subject to hire purchase in brother’s name - nemo dat quod non habet – order quashed.
2015 NICA 5 Girvan LJ
Robbery contrary to s. 8(1) Theft Act (NI) 1969 and AOABH contrary to s 47 of the Offences Against Person Act 1861 – whether finding of dangerousness justified – whether indeterminate custodial sentence justified – appeal allowed solely in respect of indeterminate sentence which is ‘a sentence of last resort’ – extended custodial sentence substituted.
2015 NICA 4 Gillen LJ
Possession of indecent child images contrary to Article 3 of the Protection of Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 – SOPO made under s.104 Sexual Offences Act 2003 – whether SOPO terms oppressive/disproportionate.
[2014] NICA 83 Coghlin LJ
Reference under s. 36 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 – terrorist murder of police officer life imprisonment for adult offender – application of minimum tariff – 25 years not unduly lenient – detention at Her Majesty’s pleasure for youth offender – minimum term of 14 years unduly lenient – limited mitigation for youth in serious violent offence of this nature – tariff of 18 years substituted.
[2014] NICA 69 Morgan LCJ
Appeal against sentence – aggravated burglary and criminal damage – use of indeterminate custodial sentence – disposal of last resort – necessity of prior inquiry: can public protection be achieved under extended sentence scheme? – appeal allowed and extended sentence substituted.
[2014] NICA 62 Morgan LCJ
Burglary – attempted burglary – obstruction – limited relevance/applicability of Guidelines from Sentencing Guidelines Council in E&W – including cases of sexual offending.
[2014] NICA 61 Morgan LCJ
Armed robbery of post office - 4 year's imprisonment deemed manifestly inadequate and increased to 8 years' imprisonment - factors pertinent to an increase in sentence - was the sentence determined on a wrong principle or manifestly inadequate having regard to all circumstances and factors - section 15 Criminal Appeal Act (NI) 1968/section 4 Criminal Appeal Act (NI) 1980
[NB: This case, which is of significance to the Court of Appeal, is not reproduced here.]
Reference by DPP - attempted grievous bodily harm with intent – gratuitous violence by young males 2 of the 3 still children – s. 53 Justice (NI) Act 2002, Art. 45(2) Criminal Justice (Children) (NI) Order 1998 and Beijing Rules all considered - sentences substituted.
[2013] NICA 38 Morgan LCJ
Causing GBI by careless driving – dangerous driving – perverting the course of justice – almost invariably requires immediate consecutive sentence – suspended sentences inappropriate in this case – sentencers need to consider whether exceptional circumstances exists in serious offending before suspending.
[2013] NICA 39 Morgan LCJ
Appeal against sentence and DPP's Reference - review of authorities on supply and production of drugs - consideration of definitive guideline from England & Wales - guideline deemed useful for aggravating and mitigating factors and serious/culpability - less applicable however in this jurisdiction on starting points and ranges where flexibility required - different approach needed for very large quantities - R v. McIlwaine [1998] NICA reaffirmed in this regard.
[2013] NICA 28 Morgan LCJ
Money laundering offences, forgery, VAT fraud, mortgage fraud and deception - bank accounts in Isle of Man and NI - false identification and documents - whether confiscation order should have included accounts in own name or in fictional names - whether fruits of the accounts not enjoyed - most of monies going to others involved in the criminal enterprise.
[2013] NICA 13 Girvan LJ
Appeal against 3 year sentence for 48 offences (incl. firearms offences) committed from 1992 to 2007 - member of loyalist paramilitary organisation - whether there should be discount for mitigating circumstances in applicant’s personal life - whether custodial sentences should have been suspended – appeal dismissed – specific guidance on the sentencing of defendants who have assisted the Police (ss. 73-76 Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005) annexed to judgment.
[2013] NICA 8 Morgan LCJ
Appeal against indeterminate custodial sentence with minimum term of five years imprisonment - explosives offence - whether dangerousness provisions of Criminal Justice (NI) Order 2008 applied - whether correct to impose indeterminate custodial sentence rather than extended custodial sentence – appeal dismissed.
[2012] NICA 54 Morgan LCJ
This is not a judgment but a summary of the judgment highlighting the sentencing guidance aspect of it. A link to the judgment is provided within the document.
Application for leave to appeal against Confiscation Orders and imprisonment - controlled waste kept in manner likely to cause pollution of environment or harm to human health and in or on land otherwise than under or in accordance with a Waste Management Licence - landfill tax - McKenna imprisonment appeal allowed and three years substituted for five - appeals by Allinghams and McKenna against confiscation orders in respect of benefit and evasion of tax dismissed - prosecution appeal allowed and confiscation order varied upward.
Causing grievous bodily injury by dangerous driving – need for sentencing court to establish factual basis of plea – proper approach to use of Guidelines – culpability rarely judged by consequence being serious injury rather than death.
[2011] NICA 71 Morgan LCJ
Common assault contrary to Section 47 of OAPA 1861 – domestic violence – 7 aggravating features – offence triable summarily – sentence to be in proportion to what magistrates’ court would have done – magistrates’ courts guidelines approved.
[2011] NICA 64 Morgan LCJ