The prison terms given to the people smugglers who killed Vietnamese migrants are far too lenient

The inadequate sentences given to the people smugglers whose greed led to the death of 39 migrants yesterday is a reminder that light jail terms is not just a Northern Ireland problem.

Three of the four culprits were from the Province, but they were imprisoned in England for their terrible crime. The dead Vietnamese adults and children suffered an “excruciating” death, the Old Bailey heard.

Maurice Robinson, 26, of Craigavon, his boss Ronan Hughes, 41, of Armagh, had admitted manslaughter. Gheorghe Nica, 43, of Basildon, Essex, and Eamonn Harrison, 24, of Co Down, were found guilty of the offences.

Robinson, yesterday was jailed for 13 years, Hughes for 20, Nica to 27 years, and Harrison to 18 years.

Mr Justice Sweeney said that they will have to serve two thirds of that time, but that means that they will probably be freed after then. Robinson will be out in about eight years, a short detention for the gravity of the crime. Think of the victims, suffocating, some of them teens, knowing they would die and sending text messages to loved ones.

The judge said he had no doubt that “the conspiracy was a sophisticated, long running, and profitable one to smuggle mainly Vietnamese migrants across the channel”.

How damning then that sentences are still so light.

The rot in sentencing began decades ago when time served for life sentences in the UK was typically 13 years. In other words, almost no offender, no matter how calculating or wicked, ever served more than that.

Minimum terms have edged up since then but are still far too low and a grave insult to victims.

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