If you committed a serious crime would you plead guilty or not guilty?

freshpopcorn

You've just committed a serious crime and the Gardaí have you in for questioning.

Would you be the type who'd try and wriggle out of it or would tell the Gardaí everything got to court, plead guilty, etc

Allinall

I'd refuse to plead.

The judge would then enter a "Not Guilty" plea on my behalf, so my concience would be clear, and I'd have a chance of getting away with it.

Too wide a question - did I think the victim deserved it, did I think I would get away with it, etc.

mazdamiatamx5

Define 'serious crime'.

Leg End Reject

I'd do everything to get away with the crime

It would depend on how much evidence the guards had.

I'd own up and plead guilty.

Stephens day hangover type thread. Try bit harder op

freshpopcorn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119991462#Comment_119991462

Serious assault, drug trafficking, murder, major armed robbery.

mumo3

I'd own up and plead guilty.

I'd be confessing to stuff I didn't do. I break out in a sweat when I see a check point like I've a body in the boot. 😂

Jequ0n

I'd do everything to get away with the crime

Wriggle out as much as possible or leave the country

Ubbquittious

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119991487#Comment_119991487

Those attract a fairly long sentence. No point in pleading guilty unless you're fairly sure the guards will be able to pin it to you. If however the guards walk in on you with a dead body beside you and holding a bloodied knife then it's better to just own up

Suppose it’s a tricky one really because unless you’re found in that situation it’s hard to know what you’d actually say.

I think I’d plead based on the likelihood of being found guilty. If there’s no major evidence (that I know of) which gives me a chance of getting off I’d prob say not guilty but if there’s no way to turn then I would be better off pleading guilty and getting half a sentence which is how it seems to work.

mazdamiatamx5

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119991487#Comment_119991487

'major armed robbery'

Define 'major', like are we talking on the massive Charlie Haughey scale, or the major but not quite massive Bertie Ahern and Ray Burke scale?

banie01

I'd do everything to get away with the crime

Given that I enjoy the presumption of innocence? Why would I plead guilty or offer an admission? It is the job of the Gardaí to gether evidence and of the DPP to present it in court and secure a conviction. Barring a guilty plea affording consideration in terms of sentencing mitigation? Theres rarely anything tangible other than a clear conscience to be gained by an admission.

I don't know that "i'd do everything possible" to get away with it, rather I wouldn't rush into making the prosecution's case for them.

Strumms

as a young person….

if the evidence is questionable, unsubstantial, weak or sparse… not guilty.

However…if a good chance of a conviction exists, save yourself the time, money, heartache, accept your punishment and put your mind to doing the time. The judge should take the guilty plea into account.

as an older person….

say 52 or over… it might be appropriate to just chance it. Not going to be a walk in the park doing time at that age especially and on release into society starting again as a 60+ year old…

Trigger Happy

I would plead not guilty for reasons of insanity. And not judge or jury in the land could argue with that.

yourdeadwright

I'd do everything to get away with the crime

The crime is done you can't change that no matter how much you want, Trust me you don't want to go to prison ,

Rotting away in a cell for the rest of your days won't change a thing, Plead not guilty & save any kind of a life you can & try to do some good ,

BaywatchHQ

I can't imagine ever being in that situation as I am incel hermit, crime is something normies do.

Atlantic Dawn

Depends, if there's clear CCTV of me committing the crime and no possible outs on it the sentence would likely be reduced with a guilty plea so in that case I'd go with that. If it was a case just based around some fella waffling in court that I told him I killed X but beyond that there was zero actual evidence I'd definitely plead not guilty and let it play out.

Mark25

All depends on the circumstances and how strong the evidence the Guards have.

Happened to me in real life. Not the most serious charge ever but bad enough and with my record knew I was in trouble. I had been in trouble before so I knew the score and how the Guards operated. Being honest hated what I saw on the CCTV and that influenced me. Was about 10 years ago before you had solicitors in the interview with you I didnt really have a choice and pleaded guilty. Took ages to get through court though.

Looking back probably the right thing to do back then. Definitely was taken into account when I got sentenced with some of it suspended.

touts

I'd do everything to get away with the crime

In this country you would be better off pleading not guilty and coming across as an utter scumbag who is likely to reoffend within 30 seconds of leaving the court. That way you're sure to get off as the Justice Industry will want you free walking the streets earning them more money in fees by committing multiple crimes. If they think you are genuinely sorry and won't reoffend you are more likely to end up in jail because there is no money in it for them if they let you walk.

Donald Trump

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119991447#Comment_119991447

As in your dinner was a bit cold when you got home type of "deserved it"?

Mad_maxx

only Thing I can say definitively is I would never make a statement to the guards about anything, you can and are always better tell you’re story in court

machaseh

I'd own up and plead guilty.

Why would I commit a crime?

If I would ever commit a crime, which is something I'd try to avoid, then it would have probably been in self defence of a more heinous crime. For example defending myself when some k person attacked me in Ballymun, but overdoing it thereby committing a crime. Then I'd own up to it saying that I tried to defend myself but unfortunately did the k person's head in and now they are at the Mater.... I could see that happen yeah.

machaseh

I'd own up and plead guilty.

I remember violating the law once when a bit too tipsy, public intoxication was charged. There was nothing to admit to because I was black out drunk, eventually I got an Adult Caution.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119994066#Comment_119994066

No. More of he knocked down my kid and left him in a wheelchair "deserved it". That sort of thing. Worrying that you immediately went for the home violence option though.

Deja Boo

😯 What did you do Popcorn ??? 😯

...forget a day in the Christmas Countdown?

Here now, it will be okay, no one will even notice 😉

Donald Trump

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119994100#Comment_119994100

Well the point is that "deserved it" is wholly subjective. We'll draw the line in different places, and some might agree with you whether a particular action is one side of the line vs. the other ....... but if you're establishing that thinking someone "deserved it" makes it ok, then don't be surprised is someone else has a different definition to thinking you deserve something!

Either way, it's not really relevant to how you would plead

banie01

I'd do everything to get away with the crime

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119994066#Comment_119994066

Exactly... It was only after he threw the plate at her that he realized that it was a salad 😉

corner of hells

I'd ask for a tribunal, make it go on for about 8 years , something along the line of what Bertie Ahern tried or maybe Liam Lawlor.

Jim2007

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058275671/if-you-committed-a-serious-crime-would-you-plead-guilty-or-not-guilty

Thirty plus years ago our law lecturer gave us a few sessions on what to do if we were being interviewed by special branch. He was a well known Republican and he was not talking about the Irish special branch;-). I’m sure many barristers who qualified in the 80s will know who I’m talking about.

So I do exactly what he advised - say nothing at all, as he said more people are in the “joy” because they opened their mouths than because of what they did.

knucklehead6

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119993371#Comment_119993371

Incel hermits. The new vegan

they find a way to get their “affliction” into every conversation

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119994127#Comment_119994127

I'll decide whats relevant to how I plead, as long as thats alright with you ?

Ray Palmer

I'd do everything to get away with the crime

There is an old story

A jester falls foul of the king and is about to be sentence to death. He pleads with the king that he can teach his best horse to talk within 5 years. The king takes him up with the deal. While the jester is teaching the horse somebody watching laughs that it will never work. The jester says I may not teach the horse but he has 5 more years and the king may be dead by then.

In Ireland there isn't a huge incentive to fight ever charge because we don't load charges to get a plea deal like in the US. In saying that the death of the school boy by the rugby boys does show what money and a good defense can make a huge deal. The boy who came forward got the harshest punishment.

Graham O'Dwyer should probably be released due to the nature of how the evidence was gathered so should fight tooth and nail. His case goes to the protection of us all and is important for that reason regardless of what he did.

Maximus Alexander

I'd keep committing more and more serious crimes in an attempt to get out of it.

Oscar_Madison

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119995035#Comment_119995035

Graham Dwyer actually helped build a case against himself with the level and detail of answers he provided when questioned , such was his arrogance that he’d never be “caught” or found guilty for the crime of murder- not saying the outcome of the trial wouldn’t have been the same but he certainly confirmed as true a lot of aspects that wouldn’t have been that easy to prove in court - he didn’t realise just how much evidence Gardai had at the time so was quite willing to answer what appeared to be very innocuous questions around places times and dates- all of which helped link him to the burner phone he used

Ray Palmer

I'd do everything to get away with the crime

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119995175#Comment_119995175

Yes they used illegal information to find out he was lying so all information from that should be thrown out as fruit from the poisoned tree. I am pretty sure he did it but legally this has all been very dodgy. He denies many statements the gardai claim he made and given what they knew it matches that they COULD have lied.

The Dowdall witness at the moment also looks very suspect.

Just want the legal system to be beyond reproach and unfortunately my interaction with Gardai does not make me trust their word.

realdanbreen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119991591#Comment_119991591

I think more along the lines of the Sinnfein Northern Bank job.

realdanbreen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119994148#Comment_119994148

Something I just found out receently is that if you admit to certain wrongdoings in a tribunal, then those admissions cannot be used against you in any subsequent criminal trial. No wonder there all mad for tribunals! As for the op question, no comment all the way and not guilty all the way.

Ray Palmer

I'd do everything to get away with the crime

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119995462#Comment_119995462

Yes but that doesn't mean you can't be charged and any evidence still can be used. It is just the admission that can't be used.

It is a bit like the child abuse allegation where people were promised they could revel all details and not be charged and the tapes would destroyed. To release those tapes would be a betrayal of the agreement and make it next to impossible to do similar in the future.

It's the legal system that must obey itself for the overall good.

realdanbreen

Anyway I always plead not guilty. I mean who's going to believe those sheep!

Oscar_Madison

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119995553#Comment_119995553

…Google translate will get ya! 😛

Big Gerry

I'd do everything to get away with the crime

If murdered someone and you were able to get the charge reduced to "manslaughter" you would only spend about 4 years in jail.

gary550

I'd do everything to get away with the crime

The only "serious" crimes I'd ever consider committing would be either a very well planned heist (I'd probably have a good idea of who I'd rob too) or very large scale vat fraud. The only way I'd consider committing either would be if I'd no family left and needed a massive amount of money to bounce and start a new life. The vat fraud is probably the most logical one in that case as it would be the easiest.

Either way if I was caught and brought back to face trial I'm doing everything I can to get away with it.

orourkeda1

I'd do everything to get away with the crime

I'm not a criminal, have no convictions and have no real experience of the legal system.

However, even I know that:

a) You never speak to any garda about anything without legal representation. EVER.

b) It should be less likely that you admit to anything in their presence either.