Is the current system of life sentences for murders unfair to victims – and should it be made stricter? 

The UK Conservative Party has pledged to overhaul homicide laws, adopting a US-style system and increasing minimum life sentences. 

Sentencing and Victim Equality (SAVE) member John Whelan said he and others have been campaigning for “decades” to harden life sentences for murder. 

“The reality of it is the perpetrator serves 12 years and then they’re entitled to look for parole,” he told Newstalk Breakfast. 

“That's the reality of it – there is no life sentence.” 

He said murder victims’ families have to engage with the parole every two to three years “pleading with them to not let the perpetrator out”. 

“It retraumatises families and the State is complicit in that,” he said. 

“It's about time that victims were put in the centre of the justice system and not on the periphery.” 

'Numerous people' in long life sentences

Former Mountjoy governor John Lonergan said Mr Whelan was being “misleading” in his interpretation.

“[Parole] can definitely be traumatic and difficult for the victims, but there’s no connection in the world between applying for parole and getting parole,” he said. 

“There are numerous people in prison today 25, 30 years into a life sentence and will likely never get out. 

“A life sentence is automatically a life sentence unless the parole board intervenes. 

“The idea that because somebody can apply for parole that they will automatically get parole is totally misleading.” 

He said he knows several prisoners who have applied for parole 20 times and never succeeded. 

'Not one family thinks the system is fair'

The average time served in prison is between 18 and 20 years, according to Mr Lonergan. 

Mr Whelan said this average sentence proves people “do not spend life in prison”. 

“I have not worked with one family that believes the sentencing system is fair,” he said. 

“It is misleading to hear on the media to hear that someone has been jailed for life – it is not the truth.” 

Mr Lonergan reemphasised that the current sentencing and parole system does take victims and families into account. 

He noted that the Irish parole system has been “very successful” and if a perpetrator on parole commits any offence – big or small – they are returned to prison and refused parole.