Widow backs stiffer jail terms for police killers
Shot officer’s wife tells of her trauma as Foster raises issue of jail terms with Justice Minister
THE widow of the first PSNI officer killed by paramilitaries has backed Arlene Foster’s call for harsher sentences for those who murder public servants.
Kate Carroll was speaking after the First Minister said it was “morally indefensible” that Northern Ireland has the most lenient tariff across the UK and Ireland for such crimes.
Mrs Carroll, whose husband Stephen was gunned down by the Continuity IRA in 2009, told the Belfast Telegraph that it was time for tougher mandatory minimum sentencing here.
“It’s traumatic enough for relatives to see their loved ones go to work every day with a target on their back,” she said.
“Steve had one on his back — and, as we know, one day that target was hit.
“After all the devastation and heartache that losing someone you love so much brings, that grief is then compounded when the killers get lenient sentences.
“They still have a life ahead of them when they get out, unlike the brave people they have deliberately put in the ground.”
Judges are bound by sentencing guidelines, which are different in each part of the United Kingdom and also in the Republic of Ireland, and must take into account mitigating circumstances, such as early guilty pleas, co-operation with police and remorse, as well as aggravating factors, such as intent and excessive violence.
Mrs Carroll was struck by tragedy again four months ago when she lost her only son.
Shane Carroll, a father of 10, died suddenly, aged 48—the same age Mr Carroll was when he was killed.
Banbridge-based Mrs Carroll (70) said her son, from a previous relationship, never recovered from the trauma caused by the death of the man he called Dad.
“Sentences for murderers should be tough enough to reflect the damage wreaked by their actions on victim’s relatives,” she said.
Mrs Foster said she had raised the issue with Justice Minister Naomi Long following the conviction last month of Crossmaglen man Aaron Brady for the murder of Garda officer Adrian Donohoe in Co Louth, and she is calling for urgent reform.
She also said it was “deeply worrying” that while Brady is facing a minimum 40-year sentence in the Republic, the starting tariff in Northern Ireland is less than half that at 15-16 years.
Kyle Black, whose 52-year-old prison officer father David was murdered by IRA dissidents in 2012, said it’s “particularly reprehensible” for people to kill public servants, who are there to serve the community.
“Anyone who goes out of their way to kill them should be properly punished,” he said.
“There has to be a deterrent there for people who continue to engage in that sort of activity.
Although no one has been convicted in connection with his dad’s murder, the 27-year-old DUP councillor said nothing will ease the pain of his brutal death.
“No level of sentencing will take away the grief, but at the same time there has to be an appropriate punishment for those who have inflicted that pain on victims’ loved ones” he said.
“We must send a clear message via tougher sentencing.”
A PSNI spokesman said: “All public servants play an incredibly important role in protecting and serving communities and we welcome the appreciation shown for their lives in the debate.
“We await the outcome of the Department of Justice’s sentencing review.”
The Department of Justice was approached for comment.