Court of Criminal Appeal (Hardiman J, judgment of court) dismisses appeal by state from decision by Circuit Court judge to impose a suspended sentence for serious drug-dealing conviction.
Criminal law - sentencing - whether sentence unduly lenient - s 15A Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 - plea of guilty - sentence of six years - sentence suspended in its entirety - circumstances of offender - positive probation report - onus of proving that sentence unduly lenient - mitigating factors - financial motivation in dealing in drugs - admission of offender to other offenses - deference by appeal court to view of sentencing judge - whether any error in principle on the part of the sentencing judge.