The chief executive of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre has expressed concern that a man convicted of a sex attack will be able to avoid a prison sentence if he pays compensation to his victim.
Ellen O'Malley-Dunlop was responding to the case of Graham Griffiths, from Annagassan, Co Louth, saying it "sends out a wrong message".
Griffiths, 29, was told by a judge yesterday that his four-year sentence for sexual assault on a 17-year-old girl would be suspended on a number of conditions.
One of the conditions was that he pays €15,000 to his victim within one year.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Ms O'Malley-Dunlop said: "It sends out a worrying message that if you are found guilty of a crime of sexual assault, which carries a maximum penalty of five years, but if you have money, you can avoid a custodial sentence."
She said it seemed like there is one law for people who have money and one law for those who do not.
Ms O'Malley Dunlop said it was worrying, because after encouraging victims to come forward, this did not feel like an appropriate punishment.
The DRCC is calling for sentencing guidelines for judges to ensure more consistent sentencing.
"It is not good enough that somebody is allowed to avoid a custodial sentence because they can pay," she said.
