Let me ask you this. If he had gotten life without possibility of parole. What then has he got to lose while in prison. He could kill as many people as he wished while serving that sentence (including Prison Officers) with the knowledge that he was not going to anymore time. Do you keep him in Solitary for the rest of his life?

But there are plenty of people in prison for life without parole that don’t kill all the prison officers.
I’m against the death penalty. But not on moral issues. I think life in jail would be much tougher sentence than a quick injection. I mean he is gonna die in jail anyway. No point in making it easy for him.

Surely, the ‘eye for an eye’ proposition would leave the apprehended perpetrators of Crime monocular, as their victims, rather than completely blind?

Of course, I suppose, metaphorically speaking, were one to visit a fest of eye gouging upon a hapless victim, rendering him or her profoundly blind, one might find oneself facing the supremely unpleasant prospect of bilateral enucleation, courtesy of the State.

So, given the choice, say: ’8 years for an Eye’ or your eye? -Personally, I’d see you in Mountjoy, no pun intended!

I regulary talk to American Officers. And they will tell you that someone doing life without possibility is 10 times more likely to commit a serious assault/murder than someone serving a fixed sentence. In our own Prisons we have stabbings, slashings and other assaults including sexual assaults on a daily basis. Its just that they are so common that media don’t bother to report them. And these are carried out by prisoners with fixed sentences!!

Neither do I but the way I look on it is that they’re taking their own lives when they murder someone.

I do, If they murder more than one person. 50 years for the murder of one and after that, the death penalty will do!

Concisely put. Let’s examine the causes. Killing killers to punish killers does seem a tad hypocritical.

So you would rather pay taxes so he could sit in a cell with a TV and Playstation, get 3 good meals a day, get top medical care, 3 visits a week and a phonecall each day for the rest of his natural life?

I would Mick. I would.
I would prefer that than to see his life taken.

I hope he rests in peace 18 years fighting the death penalty …

Shame on your inhumanity.

if “life without parole” was not an option and the only options left were 20 years in prison or execution, I could sleep well giving him the injection myself.

Those Japanese are notoriously religiousy too are they? That must be the reason. Ffs.

had you a vote on the Referendum on that issue?

I did vote and it wasnt to remove it. The death penalty is a necessary evil.

Our severely chastise penality is a bit lame.

Yeah, let’s just throw away our moral values, any sense of decency and belief in the possibility of redemption and engage in the most reprehensible form of vindictive behaviour to save a bit of money. Fab idea.

It actually costs more to execute somebody in the USA due to the legal process involved than it is to keep them in prison for life.

People are on death row for DECADES! therefor its not necessarily gonna save much.. I agree with death sentence, just think it shouldnt take so long!

If it was a member of my family or good friend I’d do it in a flash, no problems. I’m sure there would always be a family member/friend that would be willing to do it.

Say you we’re a relative of someone killed in Guilford or Birmingham.

thats a valid point vincent, but i feel that if it was used in the most secure of convictions, for serious crimes against the person then there is a place for the death penalty in our justice system,

I would. And I work in a prison. And so would the majority of my colleagues.

Don’t think you would.
You say that.
Think about it.
What you say is popular but I think you would find it very hard to do.
Not saying you couldn’t.
But I think you would go through some mental anguish to do it.

Id pull the trigger easily, i just dont know if i would be able to live with myself after it!!

Yes, and you don’t pull a trigger you squeeze it. Pulling is a jerky movement that throws your aim off.

You have obviously never been around some of the creatures I have to work with on a daily basis. You have no idea what true evil is until you have worked in a prison and seen it first hand. Some of these animals are not capable of reforming. Its like saying you can train a rabid dog. Not possible.

John Lonergan was Governor of Mountjoy for many years and he absolutely would not share your view.
Just because you work in the prisons doesn’t mean you have an evolved view on humanity. Perhaps your face is too close to the canvas to see the picture.

I have heard John speak when I was on retreat once in Dublin. He is a very good speaker and I love his approach.

@Stephen McElligott -I absolutely disagree with your statement that “nobody is ever beyond reformation”. That is not inconsistent with my belief in Christianity either. Some who commit heinous crimes fail to demonstrate remorse or repent for their crimes. Having considered all of the differing views, for me it would be as simple as this: If a criminal had committed a cold, calculated crime and refused to beg the mercy of the State -I’d hang ‘em high and I would step-up were I asked by the citizenry to do so.

Yes, I would make it as easy as a demonstration of genuine remorse to avoid the noose. The State must be capable of balancing the scales of justice and extend mercy. Let God have his vengeance.

The State has both the obligation & right to defend itself and all within it. Notwithstanding the above, the State should afford itself the recourse to the ultimate sanction, where necessary.

No, executions should never be spectator sports nor used as opportunities for organ harvesting or profit of any kind, howsoever arising.

Finally, I would see the role of Executor fall to Citizens as the role of Juror does now. Not something you can put your hand up to do nor necessarily avoid if your Country lawfully asks it of you.

You obviously “enjoy” your job mick, and by being capable of taking a human life you are no better than those people you call animals.

John Lonergon was an arsehole. We voted several times No Confidence in him. He was probably the worst Governor the the prison service ever had. I wouldn’t go go sticking him up as a Paragon of the Prison Service. Even his own fellow Governors detested him.

Yes Martin I do like my job. And what’s more I am very good at it.

Regardless of what the headline states it’s a great result.. He killed an innocent guy out earning a living.. Another piece of dirt off the streets and no longer a strain on the system !!

The death penalty is so so wrong. If we are so appalled at someone murdering someone else – what makes it right for the state to murder a prisoner.
It will not bring the victim back to life. Let them spend their life in jail but – sending someone to their death is barbaric, archaic and inhumane.

Great Idea Mark. But one problem. The bleeding heart brigade. Within a year your Gulag would have all the creature comforts. The would be screaming to the ECHR, the ICHR, Amnesty and anyone else that would listen. And the bottleless politicians would fold under pressure from the above organisations.

Why not in Dublin? It sure is a hell out there. The West is the most beautiful place to be ;-)

Maybe a bit if apartheid while you are at it? The country needs to progress, not go back to the dark ages.

Seriously Sean? Fk apartheid.. I just got a email from my mother this morning to say that the home that she was staying in was attacked by two men, who were waiting and hiding in the bushes.. If my mother had been harmed or murdered, I would be happier enough to pull the lever and hang the bastards..

By the way Sean, just so that you know that there are a lot of Black and White South Africans who want the death penalty re-instated. we are all tired of living in a country filled with corruption and murderers on a daily basis. You don’t live in SA.. Read about SA farm murders, read about how a young family were attacked 3 days ago , their 4 month baby girl was peppered sprayed and their 3 year old daughter had a gun held to her head whilst the rest of the savages robbed the family.. Or did you hear about a family whose husband and father of 42 years if age wad shot in the head at point blank range in front of his 11 Year old son.. Or how about another story? I can go on forever.. The list is endless… It just never ends and we are getting do sick and tired of having our family and friends live in this kind of environment!!!

Debi. The do- gooders on her don’t want to hear any of that. The don’t want to admit that they got it wrong and SA is heading down the same road as Zimbabwe.

Thx Mick.. It sure is a messed up world out there. I read your comments above and agree with what you say. It’s amazing how many people have an opinion about something regarding violence and yet have had no experience of witnessing it or having to deal with it first hand.

Profiteering on executions, that couldn’t possibly lead to a miscarriage of justice.
I am for one am glad that the Court of Human Rights keeps our law inline with those of the nations that have the highest standard of living on earth rather then nations like Iran (public executions) and China (executions for organ harvesting, often to order).

@David Jordan another bleeding heart so called liberal. i do like your faith in humanity but i do think its a bit naive, the fact is that there are people out there who will hurt you if you allow them,

@ Vincent Sweeney if someone is found guilty they are guilty. these people are not being locked up for stealing candy from a baby. they (the dangerous offenders) do not deserve your compassion and will use it against you

Better a bleeding heart liberal then a jackbooted fascist who wishes to aline our laws with those of Iran and China and sell tickets to public executions like they do in Saudi Arabia.
Frankly what turns be off any support for the death penalty is the bloodthirstiness of many of its supporters. Many of them seem to think themselves capable of killing with out hesitation or remorse.
Supporters of execution promise us a massive decrease in violent crime, a decrease yet to materialize in those states that still practice capital punishment.

That’s right Seamus, and as we are at it we could get nice black uniforms for everyone with a pretty ss symbol on the lapel and have mass rally’s before the public executions.

@David Jordan a fascist!! there is a difference between being a fascist and protecting society from dangerous elements. would it suit your agenda to not punish anyone for anything ever. perhaps we can let all the rapists and murderers go free because it is a breech of their human rights to be incarcerated. or maybe the state can lay on prostitutes for prisoner because sex is a human right. tell me at what stage would you draw the line