“Judges ‘cultural norms’ remarks in Puska family convictions call for urgent debate.” Ken O’Flynn TD

Independent Ireland Chair Ken O’Flynn has called for an urgent debate on the manner in which the ‘cultural norms’ of offenders who are brought before the courts are being used as mitigating criteria when sentencing is being applied.

The Cork North-Central TD was responding to reports that Judge Caroline Biggs partially suspended elements of the sentences handed down to the female members of the family of Ashling Murphy’s killer Jozef Puska today.

Deputy O’Flynn added, “Judge Biggs acknowledges that the women, who assisted in the evasion of a brutal murderer, were not coerced, but psychologically pressured because of cultural norms. She may find that a credible basis for leniency, but I and I think the vast majority of the public do not.”

“If we accept that this principle must be applied across the board then the implications for cases ranging from sexual assault, rape, female genital mutilation are enormous. Ashling Murphy’s family received no leniency from these women or from Jozef Puska and his brothers. They certainly showed that they could not care less about our ‘cultural norms’ prohibiting the savage murder of women and the evasion of the perpetrator.”

“Are we to just sit back and accept that this kind of approach is now the new normal? That pulling out the ‘cultural norms’ card is as good as paying for an additional high-level barrister?

“If you assist in the obstruction of justice for so heinous a crime then I don’t care what your culture says, mine says you go jail and to hell with misplaced leniency.”