Any explicable reason why Judge Martin Nolan isn't under greater scrutiny by media + the state?

Sugar_Rush · 25-04-2023 12:44pm #1

https://twitter.com/GardaWatch/status/1648774488060731392

It's one questionable ruling after the other.

No justice system is perfect, the Irish system is no exception.

That being said until recently, we would not have been considered a particularly densely populated state so incompetent policy/bills/legislation and law enforcement almost certainly hasn't received the exposure it deserved.

That's changing though, population soaring (immigration), dramatic ethnic diversification.

With all that being said, is someone like Martin Nolan a microcosm of the Irish justice and law enforcement framework integrity, or is there any explicable rationale why he's not receiving greater scrutiny?

NattyO · 25-04-2023 12:53pm

There's a view among the Irish media and politicos that the judiciary is a kind of quasi-religious sect, whose pronouncements are beyond criticism.

Nolan has made some very strange decisions over the years, especially when it comes to child abuse. In any other country or walk of life, he would be under intense scrutiny.

TomTomTim · 25-04-2023 1:17pm

It's hard to remove judges in Ireland, his shoddy rulings certainly don't meet the bar for removal, so it's likely a wasted conversation.

timmyntc · 25-04-2023 3:01pm

Because of the separation of powers, the judiciary are a law unto themselves (no pun intended)

These types of rulings and sentences *should* be subject to review and heavy scrutiny, but arent. We can only hope Judge Nolan takes early retirement.

25-04-2023 3:12pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120519504#Comment_120519504

I’ve seen in the UK the Government has intervened when they believe sentences extremely lenient (or harsh). Have we the same mechanic here or is it a different set up.

Allinall · 25-04-2023 3:14pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120519560#Comment_120519560

The state can appeal a sentence if they think it’s too light.

25-04-2023 3:18pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120519571#Comment_120519571

Ok I’ve never heard about it happening when have several times in the UK, might have missed it though. Does the government have the balls to intervene here?

Eurox6 · 25-04-2023 4:36pm

He seems to have a thing for letting sex offenders away with very lightly ,

Iv always wondered why there isn't more outrage,

corks finest · 25-04-2023 4:51pm

Nolan's a 🤡

Problem is he's accountable to no one

Otherwise his up n down sentencing wouldn't be allowed to go on.

Bigger problem is there's simply not enough prison spaces

L1011 · 25-04-2023 4:52pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120519590#Comment_120519590

Its not particularly uncommon here

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/rise-in-dpp-appeals-against-leniency-of-prison-terms-1.3287447

Quite a few of them would be against Nolan sentences. However, some of why we hear so much from him has to do with the specific role/court he's in; which the Chief Justice could move him from easily.

He's an ex-Garda, which is exceptionally odd for a judge.

Sugar_Rush · 25-04-2023 6:17pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120519504#Comment_120519504

Yeah but this was a political determination.

It's not like it's encoded into the laws of physics.

Surely that policy could simply be revisited and revised?

The ruling in the link is nothing short of criminal itself.

JMNolan · 25-04-2023 6:40pm

Ye're all cheeky pups you know.

timmyntc · 25-04-2023 6:53pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120520331#Comment_120520331

What are you gonna do, give us a suspended sentence?

L1011 · 25-04-2023 6:58pm

Judicial retirement age is 70. He was at least 18 in 1979 (to join the Guards), so is at least 62 now; so we only have 8 years max left at least.

Hellrazer · 25-04-2023 7:11pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120519504#Comment_120519504

We can only hope Judge Nolan takes early retirement.

Or ends up a victim of one of those criminals that he gave a suspended sentence to when they should have been locked up and the key thrown away.

Retirements too good for him.

JMNolan · 25-04-2023 7:12pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120520372#Comment_120520372

Ever import any garlic?

Podge_irl · 25-04-2023 7:27pm

As long as he is following legal requirements in the sentencing its a pretty difficult one to approach. There are very valid reasons why the legislature is not supposed to interfere in the judiciary. Carving out scenarios where it is justified and makes sense is not a straightforward endeavour and fairly open to abuse.

Equally though I'm not thrilled about him continuing on it has to be said.

25-04-2023 7:34pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120520388#Comment_120520388

He’s 63.

25-04-2023 7:37pm

also jaysus never googled his name before but the petitions etc to have him removed from his job (and the sheer amount of sex offenders he’s let off easy, way, way too easy) would suggest an obvious one to deal with but.. nada.

In that article @L1011 linked, this quote struck me tbh.

That same month, the mother of a juvenile sentenced to six years for a violent burglary screamed at the judge that he had earlier handed down a lighter sentence to a child abuser.

As she was arrested for contempt and was being escorted to the cells, the woman shouted to Judge Nolan that he "gave a pervert four years for raping children".

A pedophile got a less severe punishment than a juvenile and his upset mother.. makes sense?

thegame983 · 25-04-2023 7:37pm

The media only care about 'hate' crimes.

Gusser09 · 25-04-2023 7:46pm

His sentencing is disgusting. As much as id hate to have my house burgled id prefer that over one of my relatives being raped. However he seems to think burglary should carry a more hefty sentence than rape and molestation.

thinkabouit · 25-04-2023 8:12pm

I've followed a few of his cases, couldn't believe the sentencing of some of them. Something very fishy for sure.

seenitall · 25-04-2023 8:48pm

Perhaps he’s one of those twisted people who are very circumspect about victims of crime such as rape or assault and would rather believe the victim must have been “asking for it” in some manner, than that the perp is evil. Which would lead me to imagine what kind of stuff must be going on in such a person’s mind…….. but I’m not a psychologist. (Given this, I find it awful he used to be a Garda.)

We had one of those posting quite recently on boards, maybe he’s still around.

Varik · 25-04-2023 9:30pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120520508#Comment_120520508

https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-30545487.html

He gave the 17 year old the literal minimum he could with all he did at 6 years. He and his friends held a couple hostage for hours at knife point under the additional threat of raping the girl so the lad could take money out of the ATM multiple times as there was a daily limit.

https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-30545485.html

The pedo actually got more than you'd expect as Nolan sentenced him to serve the sentences consecutively rather than the normal concurrent sentences Irish judges love to hand out. 8 years with 4 suspended. If they'd been concurrent it'd have been even shorter.

Sugar_Rush · 25-04-2023 9:39pm

Last thing we need is another one of these types of judges in Ireland.

https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/artsandculture/arid-40194723.html#:~:text=Se%C3%A1n%20Cox%20with%20wife%20Martina,a%20Champions%20League%20semi%2Dfinal.

Assailants of Sean Cox (who was left paralyzed in an unprovoked assault) were free in 14 months.

.......

Justice?

There is none.

No repeat of that in Ireland plz.

The assault Nolan was responsible for presiding over was just as malicious in intent and the sentence itself was similar.

The assailants in the case of Sean Cox ultimately only served 14 of a lengthier sentence.

Jequ0n · 26-04-2023 11:22am

Thank god there is a new thread to bemoan sentences. So different to all the others

ohnonotgmail · 26-04-2023 11:29am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120520954#Comment_120520954

you can't introduce facts into a thread like this.

I.am.Putins.raging.bile.duct · 26-04-2023 11:48am

https://www.change.org/p/minister-for-justice-judge-martin-nolan-resignation?signed=true

Varik · 26-04-2023 12:02pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120522448#Comment_120522448

Amounts to just a rounding error.

He still gave each case the minimum he could legally per crime

ohnonotgmail · 26-04-2023 12:07pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120522595#Comment_120522595

there isn't enough information in the article about the sexual abuse to determine that.

26-04-2023 4:26pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120520954#Comment_120520954

I am not saying one should have gotten less than the other. I am saying the sentence does not fit the crime imo.

This is two cases anyway, there’s a clear pattern of piss taking from JMN.

Any explicable reason why Judge Martin Nolan isn't under greater scrutiny by media + the state?

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