Ulster Unionist Party leader Jon Burrows MLA has written to the Director of Public Prosecutions, Stephen Herron, asking him to urgently consider referring the sentences imposed on Luis Dos Martins Mariano and Alcino Soares to the Court of Appeal on the ground that they are unduly lenient.

Jon Burrows said:

“Two men acted in concert against a vulnerable young woman, subjected her to a prolonged and humiliating ordeal, and have since sought to blame her and minimise what they did. Against a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, an effective custodial term of three years appears to me not merely lenient but unduly so.

“Violence against women and girls is a serious problem in our society. Sentences such as these do not provide an adequate deterrent, do not properly recognise the harm caused and do not sufficiently address the need to protect the public. They risk sending entirely the wrong message to victims and perpetrators alike.

“I have asked the Director to examine the sentencing remarks urgently and refer these sentences to the Court of Appeal. The time limit is short and I would urge him to act within it.”

The Ulster Unionist Party Leader has also asked the Director to confirm whether deportation notices have been issued in respect of both defendants, noting that a sentence exceeding 12 months engages the duty under section 32(5) of the UK Borders Act 2007 where the relevant nationality conditions are met and no statutory exception applies.