Only fifty depraved child sex offenders received a prison of more than five years in a four year period in Northern Ireland, it has been revealed.
That number means that more than 90% of child sex offenders received a sentence less than five years; half of which is often served on licence.
The figures were revealed by the Justice Minister in response to a written question submitted by DUP Upper Bann MLA Jonathan Buckley.
Jonathan Buckley MLA, speaking following the “shocking” figures, said: “In February, I addressed the Assembly voicing concern at the shocking new National Crime Agency figures that indicated child sexual abuse image crimes have almost doubled in the last five years.
“This shocking statistic has focused a spotlight on the child protection crisis that clearly exists within Northern Ireland. This threat to children and our communities is coupled with the leniency of sentences given to child sex offenders.
“The true scale of this has been uncovered in the response to my recent written question to the Justice Minister Naomi Long, which states, of the 547 people convicted of child sex offences between 2019 and 2023, 278 (50.8%) received a custodial sentence with only 50 of those receiving a sentence of five years or more.
“These are some of the most heinous imaginable crimes, and sadly, the sentences clearly do not reflect the severity of the offenders actions or the lifelong trauma inflicted on their victims.
“Lenient sentences undermine public confidence in the justice system and fail to act as a meaningful deterrent on those who prey on children.
“I urge the Justice Minister to strongly consider a sentencing review for serious sexual offences. Without tougher sentences, we fail the very people the law is meant to protect.”
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