Why Did He Only Get Such A Short Sentence

[emmie]

i know he is a super grass but 6 1/2 years for all the crimes he has committed
seems derisory.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-42857474

[Islay]

He originally got 34 but because of the evidence he provided it was downgraded, the information received must have been bloody good!!

[emmie]

maybe, but his life will be forfeit unless he is kept in solitary. Murder many people, do 100 or so terrorist actions and get to live a life after prison, all those families lives he has wrecked, doesn't seem right.

[ichkeria]

It isn't right: he turned supergrass out of self-interest, as many did, and actually hardly anyone was ever convicted on his evidence anyway

[sapelesam]

Probably down to our ex fearless leader, Tony Blair and his disgraceful Good Friday Agreement.

[andy-hughes]

Your link appears to provide the answer emmie - he did a deal for a reduced sentence in return for information.

[Buenchico]

The government and security forces will be hoping that there will be other 'supergrasses' in the future, not just in relation to historical crimes in Northern Ireland but also in relation to current threats (such as those from Islamic fundamentalists). It was important that the court made it clear that there can significant benefits from 'turning Queen's evidence', otherwise nobody else would ever consider doing it.

[Everhelpful]

Agree with saplesam,100%.

[ichkeria]

"disgraceful Good Friday Agreement"

sigh

The "supergrass" system was always controversial: there were known cases of a blind eye being turned to activities of supergrasses and "moles" in order to protect them. It's one thing when someone decides to turn on their own initiative, or even where they are blackmailed by the authorities. But when unscrupulous individuals commit murder and then attempt effectively to bribe their way out of long jail sentences well I think that is very murky indeed.

[goodgoalie]

He's been promised a new identity when he's released. Good luck with that - he'll be found wherever he goes

[mikey4444]

He dished the dirt on a lot of other people.

Quite where he is going to live when he finally gets out is anyone's guess.

[waterboatman]

He saved the police a lot of time, and the taxpayer a lot of money. Morals don't come into it. Sad, but true.

[mikey4444]

Agree Boaty !

[emmie]

can't agree on that wbm, mikey, he should be in jail for the rest of his life and no parole, barbaric creature doesn't deserve to be out and about amongst decent folk, what ever he coughed up

[emmie]

what about the families of those he personally murdered, they don't see justice at all. Some some scum bag get out of a life sentence.

[youngmafbog]

As said above, he got the sentence due to grassing up people around him.

The question is: Should we trade sentencing for information?

[youngmafbog]

//Quite where he is going to live when he finally gets out is anyone's guess. //

I suspect he wont be doing much living.

[waterboatman]

I agree with you emmie, but that is not going to happen for the reasons I stated.

[emmie]

they said he will get a new identity when he come out, why? i know he grassed up a lot of people and his life won't be worth much on release.

[waterboatman]

They will find him emmie!

[emmie]

i expect you are right.