Sentencing guidelines - Guilty Pleas

10 November 2023

R v Laurence Creaney

The NICOA provided guidance in respect of basis of pleas and Newton hearings at paras [44] – [55].

Renewed application for leave to appeal against 3 year prison sentence – arson – whether sentence manifestly excessive – whether judge erred in declining to accept the appellant’s main mitigation point that he committed the offences under severe pressure and coercion from drugs gang lord and murderer – whether breach of article 2 ECHR – co-accused mitigation – whether the judge wrongly distinguished appellant’s sentencing from that of co-accused – whether sentence should have taken the form of a non-custodial disposal – application refused – sentence reaffirmed

16 March 2023

King v Nathan Phair and King v Padraig Toher

In this judgment the Court of Appeal provides guidance on the credit to be given for a late guilty plea where upon arraignment further evidence is outstanding.

Toher - Renewed application for leave to appeal a sentence of 12 years imprisonment - manslaughter – GBI by dangerous driving x 2 – doing an act intending to pervert the course of justice – conspiracy to possess a class A drug (cocaine) – whether the judge’s end point before reduction for the plea of guilty was manifestly excessive – whether the judge was wrong in principle to impose a sentence of four years for the drug offence and three years for perverting the course of justice – whether the judge provided sufficient reduction for the guilty plea – leave granted – appeal allowed - sentence reduced to 11 years to reflect the early guilty plea and remorse – driving disqualification of 10 years untouched

Phair - application to appeal a sentence of 11 years imprisonment and 15 year driving disqualification with leave of the single judge as to starting point – causing death by dangerous driving – causing GBI by dangerous driving – causing death by driving whilst unlicenced and uninsured – causing GBI by driving whilst unlicenced and uninsured – supplying a class A drug (cocaine) – whether the starting point of 13 years before mitigation was manifestly excessive – whether the court provided enough by way of mitigation - whether the drug offence was over sentenced – whether the 15 year driving disqualification was excessive – appeal dismissed save the period of disqualification reduced to 10 years.

18 May 2022

R v Maughan (Appellant) (Northern Ireland)

This is a judgment given by Sir Declan Morgan in the Supreme Court which reaffirms the different approach in this jurisdiction (from E&W and Scotland) to the question of the reduction for a guilty plea in circumstances where the offender has essentially been apprehended in flagrante.

16 March 2016

R v Sean Ruddy

Possession of explosives with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury to property contrary to s. 3(1)(b) of the Explosive Substances Act 1883 - reiteration of principles governing guilty pleas – need for counsel to correct any misapprehension on court’s part as to timing of guilty plea –recourse to be had to the ‘slip rule’ under s. 49(2) of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 when appropriate – sentence left undisturbed.

17 May 2013

R v Gary McKeown; DPP Ref (No 2 of 2013) and R v Han Lin

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.

17 May 2013

Queen v Gary McKeown, Director of Public Prosecution’s Reference (Number 2 of 2013), The Queen v Han Lin

16 December 2011

R v James John Stewart Caswell

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.

24 February 2006

Gary McDonald, John Keith McDonald and Stephen Gary Maternaghan, Attorney General's Reference (Number 1 of 2006) (AG REF 11-13 of 2005)

Guilty pleas - need to plead at earliest opportunity.

11 November 2005

Bernard Philip Mary Rooney, Denis Michael Dorrian, Gerard Martin Paul Irvine, Seamus Patrick Cunningham and Sean Martin Joseph Doran. Attorney General's Reference (No. 1 of 2005) (AG Ref 6-10 of 2005)

This is the guideline judgment which authoritatively lays down correct procedure to be followed in this jurisdiction when a sentencing indication is sought by a defendant.

27 October 2005

R v Charles Malachy Oliver Pollock

12 year sentence not unreasonable - Also statement that there should be less discount for a plea of guilty caught red handed.

16 March 1998

R v McShane

Discount for guilty plea - when maximum sentence may be imposed on a guilty plea.

06 March 1998

R v Baker and Another

Custodial sentence - seriousness of offence - offence so serious that only custodial sentence can be justified - appellants pleading guilty to charge of burglary and sentenced to six months' imprisonment - whether custodial sentence appropriate.

18 December 1997

R v Colin McKeown, Jason Loyal & Robert Glasgow

Conspiracy to rob and false imprisonment - plan to rob sub post office appellants caught holding the family of sub post mistress hostage - deterrent sentences - discount for guilty plea under Article 33 of the Criminal Justice (NI) Order (1996).