Crime and Punishment
I wrote the other day that an East Ayrshire man convicted of threatening behaviour towards Celtic manager Neil Lennon - should be given a second chance - and that keeping him out of prison was probably the right sentence.
And that only if he failed to learn his lesson and re-offend - should he be packed off to jail - for five years.
See post dated 7 October 2011 - Name and Shame.
But the very next day I read a report about a 16-year-old - who carried out a racist attack on a 71-year old pensioner outside a mosque in Ayrshire - yet was given only three years' detention.
Which seems like an extraordinarily lenient sentence to me - given the nature of this thug's deplorable crime.
Samuel Cassidy admitted racially-aggravated assault on his victim - Muhammed Iqbal - who suffered severe facial injuries - and was left unconscious during the attack in July.
The court heard that Mr Iqbal had been a "pillar of the community" for more than 40 years - and the retired shopkeeper had been opening up Ayrshire Central Mosque in Kilmarnock - for early morning prayers.
When Samuel Cassidy attacked Mr Iqbal - called him a "Paki bastard" - assaulted him for 10 minutes - and continued to kick and stamp on Mr Iqbal while he lay unconscious.
Seems to me that Mr Iqbal could have been easily killed - yet his assailant gets only three years in prison - and may well serve less than eighteen months.
What kind of justice is that?
Samuel Cassidy ran off when people came to Mr Iqbal's aid - he was taken to hospital and kept in hospital for several days for treatment.
And Samuel Cassidy later confirmed how stupid he was by boasting about the attack in a text message - which was used against him in court.
Now this young man may have his problems - but a year or so in prison won't get to grips with them - either as a proper punishment for his crime - or to rehabilitate him back into society.
So what's the point of sentencing him to three years in jail - when this can only scratch the surface of what needs to be done.
And that only if he failed to learn his lesson and re-offend - should he be packed off to jail - for five years.
See post dated 7 October 2011 - Name and Shame.
But the very next day I read a report about a 16-year-old - who carried out a racist attack on a 71-year old pensioner outside a mosque in Ayrshire - yet was given only three years' detention.
Which seems like an extraordinarily lenient sentence to me - given the nature of this thug's deplorable crime.
Samuel Cassidy admitted racially-aggravated assault on his victim - Muhammed Iqbal - who suffered severe facial injuries - and was left unconscious during the attack in July.
The court heard that Mr Iqbal had been a "pillar of the community" for more than 40 years - and the retired shopkeeper had been opening up Ayrshire Central Mosque in Kilmarnock - for early morning prayers.
When Samuel Cassidy attacked Mr Iqbal - called him a "Paki bastard" - assaulted him for 10 minutes - and continued to kick and stamp on Mr Iqbal while he lay unconscious.
Seems to me that Mr Iqbal could have been easily killed - yet his assailant gets only three years in prison - and may well serve less than eighteen months.
What kind of justice is that?
Samuel Cassidy ran off when people came to Mr Iqbal's aid - he was taken to hospital and kept in hospital for several days for treatment.
And Samuel Cassidy later confirmed how stupid he was by boasting about the attack in a text message - which was used against him in court.
Now this young man may have his problems - but a year or so in prison won't get to grips with them - either as a proper punishment for his crime - or to rehabilitate him back into society.
So what's the point of sentencing him to three years in jail - when this can only scratch the surface of what needs to be done.
