Should life in prison mean life?

Should those committed to life imprisonment be forced to stay behind bars for the rest of their days? We asked our Facebook friends for their views on the subject. Here’s an edited selection of some of the comments we received.

Bridget Bligh: Yes, life means life.

Pauline Doyle: Lock

’em’ up

‘n’ throw away

?¦

Linda Henvey Allebach: From what I hear the punishment there is never enough.

Bernie Weldon: Life means life. Paedos, rapists and people who murder children should rot in hell. Prison too good for them.

Bernadette Clarke Cowzer: Life should mean life and 10 years should mean 10 years.

Siobhan Grace: A life for a life. Bring back the death penalty.

Suzy Bevan: I think it depends on the circumstances of each individual case. There are some cases where I am astonished when they get such minor sentences and then there are some where they get the 20-year sentences and it is very justified. What amazes me is that I know everyone has the right to an appeal but how does an appeal have any validity when a person has taken a life?

Ciara Byrne: It should be life for the scum that takes a life and they can leave prison in a box. Just my opinion!

Robin O’Connor: Life should mean life with no exceptions.

Sandra Devlin Ellis: One word – yes.

Stephen Rooney: Yes, the judge should be able to set life terms; the same with other sentences such as rape or other serious offences.

Ruby O’Brien: Only one answer to that and that’s yes.

Aideen Blake: If you get life because you took a life well why should you get to live while someone else doesn’t?

Tina Poole: Yes it should.

John Parrott: Life should mean what it says – the natural life of the perpetrator. By enforcing such a penalty for the serious crimes we face in society and looking sensibly at the penalties for other crimes, we might – just might – start getting somewhere. Life should exclude the chance of getting early release or cosy options. As others have said, judges don’t consider a life penalty for shoplifting! Quite often the victims of crimes resulting in such sentences face a life of misery. Why should the cause of that misery and pain be excused after a fraction of the sentence handed down?

Kathleen Roche: Yes, I believe life in prison should mean life.

Sara McMahon: Yes, bring back hanging. A life for a life. Life is cruel enough.

Theresa Scallan: Definitely – it should mean for the rest of one’s life.

Yvonne O Toole: Yes, end of story. They didn’t get life for nothing

?¦

Colette O’Toole: Yes, life should mean life; not let out after 10 years.

Jim Mason: Definitely. Keep them in till they die. Ignore the Brussels buffoons.

Vincent Houlihan: Totally. They are not sentenced to life for breaking a red light, so yes – life should mean life.