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Possession of explosives – s. 3(1)(b) Explosive Substances Act 1883) – causing an explosion likely to endanger life or to cause injury to property – s.2 Explosive Substances Act 1883 – DPP’s Reference – sectarian motivation – need for deterrent sentencing – 4 years’ imprisonment suspended for 3 years – unduly lenient but not interfered with.
[2013] NICA 73 Coghlin LJ
First instance sentencing remarks.
[2013] NICC 20 His Honour Judge McFarland
3 references by DPP – whether sentencing unduly lenient - convictions for riotous assembly contrary to common law - disturbances following decision about frequency of flying Union flag outside Belfast City Hall – first guideline case from NI Court of Appeal on riotous assembly – 2 references allowed.
[2013] NICA 63 Morgan LCJ
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
Indecent assault, gross indecency and buggery of female child by male sibling aged 13/14 - 4 1/2 year custody probation order (concurrent) reduced to 12 months' imprisonment.
[2013] NICA 27 Morgan LCJ
DPP reference from sentence of 18 months imprisonment suspended for 3 years, a fine of £50,000 and disqualification from driving for 5 years - causing grievous bodily injury by dangerous driving – whether sentence unduly lenient - limited but relevant criminal record consisting of road traffic offences – mitigating circumstances surrounding employment – reference allowed and sentence of 12 months’ imprisonment substituted.
[2013] NICA 9 Morgan LCJ
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
First instance sentencing remarks – guidance pending Court of Appeal deliberation – carrying dutiable goods with intent to defraud contrary to Section 170 of the Custom & Excise Management Act 1979 – consideration of relevant Sentencing Council (E&W) Guideline and categories.
[2013] NICC 12 His Honour Judge McFarland
First instance sentencing remarks – guidance pending Court of Appeal deliberation –trafficking within the United Kingdom for the purposes of sexual exploitation contrary to section 58(1) of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 – controlling activities of another for purposes of prostitution for gain contrary to Article 63 of Sexual Offences (NI) Order 2008 etcetera.
[2012] NICC 26 Stephens J
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.
Possession of Class B drugs – intent to supply and possession of criminal property – cannabis – sentencer entitled to have regard to surrounding circumstances especially cultivation.
[2012] NICA 17 Morgan LCJ
First instance sentencing remarks – guidance pending Court of Appeal deliberation – corporate manslaughter – adoption of Sentencing Council guidelines.
[2012] NICC 17 His Honour Judge Burgess
First instance sentencing remarks – guidance pending Court of Appeal deliberation – trafficking offences – Hungarian – controlling activities of another for purposes of prostitution for gain contrary to Article 63 of Sexual Offences (NI) Order 2008 – assisting in management of brothel Article 64(1) of Sexual Offences (NI) Order 2008 – trafficking two persons into UK for the purposes of sexual exploitation contrary to Section 57(1)(a) of Sexual Offences Act 2003.
[2012] NICC 14 His Honour Judge Burgess
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
Guidance on the correct approach to sentencing for manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility.
[2011] NICA 58 Higgins LJ
Common assault contrary to Section 47 of OAPA 1861 – modest level of physical violence – offence triable summarily – whether sentence out of all proportion to what the magistrate would have done.
[2011] NICA 42 Morgan LCJ
Fraudulent evasion of duty contrary to section 170(2) of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 - cigarette smuggling operations - whether trial judges erred in imposing confiscation order – appropriateness of custodial sentences for these offences.
[2011] NICA 31 Girvan LJ