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This is a short addendum ruling correcting an error in sentencing within the main judgment reported at [2024] NICC 30 . Determinate custodial sentences were replaced with extended custodial sentences where necessary
[2024] NICC 36 O'Hara J
Crown Court sentencing remarks – catfishing – sextortion - manslaughter - causing or inciting girls under 13 and between the age of 13 and 16 to engage in sexual activity – blackmail – making, distributing and possessing indecent images of children – causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent - intimidation - sexual communication with a child - offending against 70 victims worldwide – harm inevitably and indisputably huge – assessed as presenting a significant risk of serious harm – victim did not prove on the balance of probabilities that he was the victim of catfishing as a child – no previous record – pleas of guilty – some limited evidence of remorse post 2019 – numerous aggravating factors outlined at para [77] - extensive and worsening offending after his first arrest in 2016 – life sentence imposed – 20 year minimum tariff imposed with concurrent sentences in respect of the remaining counts – 10 year SOPO – disqualified from working with children – disposal order in respect of 13 devices
[2024] NICC 30 O'Hara J
Application to extend time for leave to appeal sentence – murder – 20 year tariff – Plus: 1. attempted murder; 2. possession of shotgun; and, 3. handgun both with intent to endanger life – discretionary life sentences with concurrent tariffs of 20 years’ imprisonment for each offence. Planned professional killing – McCandless reaffirmed – extension of time refused on murder count and tariff on mandatory life sentence left undisturbed – tariffs of 10, 8 & 8 years’ imprisonment respectively substituted in the remaining offences extension of time and leave having been granted on those counts.
[2017] NICA 4 Morgan LCJ
Appeal against sentence - historic sexual abuse - discretionary life sentence - whether necessary to make finding of unstable character - whether offences sufficiently grave - whether likely future offending must be sex offences - whether alternative protective sentence could be imposed - appeal dismissed.
[2016] NICA 21 Weatherup LJ
Manslaughter on ground of diminished responsibility and 2 X possession of a firearm with intent – planned killing of offender’s father – impaired judgement – assessed as presenting further risk of serious harm – whether life sentence necessary – whether ICS adequately considered – whether 10 yr. tariff appropriate – whether conclusion that responsibility was relatively high correct – fresh medical evidence received on appeal establishing lower culpability – ICS with specified period of 7 years substituted for manslaughter and two with specified period of 4 for firearms convictions.
2015 NICA 57 Morgan LCJ
Guidance on the correct approach to sentencing for manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility.
[2011] NICA 58 Higgins LJ
Reference by AG of sentence as unduly lenient - robbery - whether other offenders knew of intention to use knife of obvious importance to sentencing exercise – failure to cite relevant guideline authorities to sentencing judge - sentences imposed for robbery unduly lenient - quashed and substituted.
[2008] NICA 41 Kerr LCJ
Robbery - youth offender - consecutive or concurrent sentences.
[2007] NICA 16 Kerr LCJ
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.
[2005] NICA 44 Kerr LCJ
Conditions justifying the imposition of discretionary life sentences.
[2004] NICA 11 Kerr LCJ
AG referral of sentence as unduly lenient - armed robbery of rural post office - section 8 (1) Theft Act (Northern Ireland) 1969 – considerable violence used - taking a motor vehicle without consent Art. 172 Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981- offender heavily pregnant when sentenced – no PSR obtained despite offender’s request - sentence unduly lenient - 27 month sentence substituted for custody probation order (2 years’ custody & 18 months’ probation).
[2004] NICA 6 Kerr LCJ
Robbery - Amateurish robbery of small business - need for deterrence - substitution of immediate custodial sentence for a non-custodial one.
[2003] NICA 32 Carswell LCJ
Robbery and possession of firearm with intent - deterrent sentences for armed robbery of bank.
Coates 230697 MacDermott LJ
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).
R v McKeown, Logal, Glasgow 181297 MacDermott LJ
Attempted robbery and assault - "mugging" - young offender.
R v Benson 230597 MacDermott LJ
Look-out for robbery with violence - contemplation of violence - crime committed to finance drug habit.
R v Henderson 080396 Carswell LCJ
Robbery or attempted robbery from elderly person in own home - R -v- Ferguson guidelines - distinguishing features.
Gibson 100395 MacDermott LJ
Robbery with violence - mitigating factors - alcoholic - plea of guilty.
R v O'Neill & Archibald 280193 Kelly LJ
Attempted robbery and assault occasioning actual bodily harm - imprisonment for 14 and 12 years - elderly victim - savage and prolonged attack - deterrent sentences - appropriate discount for late plea of guilty - accused alcoholic - whether relevant that accused under influence of drink - whether excessive or wrong in principle.
[1992] NIJB 26 Hutton LCJ
Armed robbery with violence - use of firearm or imitation firearm - elderly couple in own home - guideline sentences.
Ferguson 210489 O'Donnell LJ