19 May 2008

Detonation of nuclear weapon to carry 12 month sentence (or a fine)

The Irish Labour Party website has a statement (dated 13 May) from Ciaran Lynch TD, the party’s spokesperson on Housing and Local Government which reads:


“The provision in the Nuclear Test Ban Bill that allows for somebody found guilty of detonating a nuclear bomb to be jailed for only 12 months or fined just €5,000 is just silly and should be removed, according to Labour. The Bill will be debated tomorrow at the Oireachtas Environment Committee.This provision is crazy and I'll be asking Minister Gormley to get rid of it. Under the provisions of this legislation, if the nuclear detonation is of a minor nature, the District Court can impose a sentence of 12-month jail sentence or a €5,000 fine. How can detonating a nuclear bomb be minor?


"If somebody detonates a nuclear bomb, the chances are that there will be no jail to put them in. Nor will be there be too many people concerned about collecting a fine!The District Court is authorised to impose fines of €10,000. With its maximum fines of €5000, this bill doesn't even let it go that far with ! It just doesn't make any sense. This is beyond ridiculous. We've become accustomed to some barmy ideas coming from the John Gormley and his Green Party colleagues, but this takes the biscuit."


Now that is a nuclear deterrent to be proud of, albeit in a surreal way. Perhaps a first offender may be let off with a conditional discharge....

13 comments:

Liz Hinds said...

Well, in the old days, the local bobby would have just given you a clip round the ear if you'd let off a nuclear bomb.

jams o donnell said...

And you'd get a clip on the ear when you got hme too. I bet they never did it again either.

maryt/theteach said...

jams, it sure does take the biscuit, and the cake too! HA! Does Gormley know Bush?

Anonymous said...

Silliness abounds, so it does.

roman said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
jams o donnell said...

I wonder but I doubt they would be firends Mary!

SO it does indeed, Aileni!

roman said...

Well I'm glad that's settled and we can all rest easy. Such a stern punishment should put off any potential nuke bomber.
I'll check into what punishment is in store for anyone that dares to nuke us here in the states. A good yank on the ear and a half hour in the corner wearing a dunce hat? ;)

Unknown said...

Why do you think it was John Gormley that was responsible for this part of the bill? Fianna Fáil is still the majority party in the government, remember!

jams o donnell said...

THat'll stop'em Roman!

Breandan the comment was from Ciaran Lynch. I freely admit that the finger may not point at the Greens

Anonymous said...

This is a classic of the "legislation in search of a problem" genre that is such a staple of US state governments.

It's not quite up there with attempted suicide as a capital offense, but it's close.

jams o donnell said...

Very true Bryan!

the suspect said...

exactly... stupid as anybody could get. it doesnt measure to waht morality or justice is all about. crazy-ness to the max!

jams o donnell said...

It certainly does seem absurd suspect