How many chances do the public deserve?

EVERYONE deserves a second chance: an opportunity to tackle their demons and address their criminal behaviour. Doubtless that is what Judge Melanie Greally had in mind when suspending the sentence of Gary Kearney, who had robbed and assaulted a stranger after pretending to be a garda. Judge Greally agreed that Kearney deserved the opportunity to address the drug addiction which was blamed for the vicious crime of which he had been convicted.

What is troubling about this case, though, is that this assault wasn’t Kearney’s first offence. It wasn’t his second, or third or even fourth.

Prior to this crime, he had also committed assault, animal cruelty, robbery, theft, burglary, criminal damage and public order offences. In all, Kearney has a staggering 160 prior convictions.

The first question that has to be asked, naturally, is how it is possible to have racked up 160 convictions and still be out on the street at all.

The reason Kearney committed this most recent assault and robbery is in large part because our criminal justice system, which should long ago have ensured he was locked up for a very long time, let him out to reoffend yet again. His most recent victim – a man who was handcuffed, robbed and violently attacked – has every reason to blame our soft system for his horrifying ordeal.

The second question is this: regardless of Kearney’s promises, how can we take the risk that he won’t continue the habit of a lifetime and attack another victim?

If he wants drug treatment, he can continue it in prison. That way, he gets a chance to tackle his addiction – but the public are kept safe in case he decides to offend again. For the umpteenth time.