Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Cathaoirleach, the Leader and all my colleagues on all sides of the House back to what I hope and am sure will be a very productive session. On behalf of the Fianna Fáil group, I would like to pass on our deepest sympathies to Senator Clune and her family on the recent passing of her mother. We certainly agree with the Leader's sentiments.

I do not intend to go into the specifics of it but, like all of my colleagues here, I am absolutely disgusted by the judgment made yesterday in a brutal case of rape, incest and child abuse that took place over a prolonged period of time. I am no lawyer but as a layperson and citizen, I cannot understand why a sentence of only 12 years would be given, why nine years of that sentence would be suspended on grounds of good behaviour and ill health and why the judge would then give this individual leave to appeal the sentence.