The Northern Ireland Assembly has received the Sentencing Bill from the Department of Justice. The measure raises the maximum prison term for causing death or serious injury through dangerous driving or careless driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs from 14 years to 20 years. It allows judges to impose life sentences at their discretion on repeat offenders and stipulates that driving bans take effect after any custodial sentence.

Peter Dolan, whose son Enda died in 2014 after a van driven onto a footpath near his Belfast student accommodation struck him, backs the proposals. Enda Dolan, 18 and from County Tyrone, studied architecture at Queen's University Belfast. Driver David Lee Stewart of Gray's Park Avenue in Belfast had alcohol from 13 drinks and cocaine traces in his system. He continued driving with Enda on the van roof for 800 yards and received a seven-year term, half in custody, later raised to nine years on appeal.

The bill creates longer terms for murderers who withhold the location of victims' remains, named after Charlotte Murray, missing since 2012 with partner Johnny Miller convicted of her killing. Parole decisions must account for such non-disclosure, matching arrangements elsewhere. It establishes a new offence carrying increased penalties for assaults on public service workers or those on public duty.

Changes to hate crime provisions follow a review by Judge Desmond Marrinan and introduce a statutory factor for sentencing aggravation. Justice Minister Naomi Long stated that crime victims and families shaped the bill through their input. The legislation follows a 2016 sentencing review under then-minister Claire Sugden and a 2021 maximum-term proposal by Long.

Road safety group Brake chief Ross Moorlock endorsed tougher road penalties as a potential deterrent. Retail NI leader Glyn Roberts supported protections against assaults on staff.