Committee for Justice
Minutes of proceedings Tuesday 6 October 2026
Committee for Justice Minutes of Proceedings 6 October 2026.pdf (167.86 kb)
Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings, Belfast
Present:
Paul Frew MLA (Chairperson)
Doug Beattie MLA
Connie Egan MLA
Ciara Ferguson MLA
Patsy McGlone MLA
Present by Video or Teleconference:
Emma Sheerin MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Brian Kingston
Aoife Finnegan MLA
Apologies:
Maurice Bradley MLA
In Attendance:
Kathy O’Hanlon (Assembly Clerk)
Thomas McKillop (Senior Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Gareth Black (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Danielle Saunders (Clerical Supervisor)
The meeting commenced at 9.35am in public session.
Agreed: That the oral evidence session on the Criminal Justice (Sentencing etc) Bill with Pauline Duddy, and then separately with the Men’s Advisory Project will be recorded by Hansard.
Paul Frew and Ciara Ferguson declared an interest in relation to agenda item 3, on the basis that they have met with Pauline Duddy on previous occasions to discuss the campaign for Jasmin’s Law.
1. Apologies
As above.
2. Draft Minutes
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 29 September 2026.
3. Criminal Justice (Sentencing etc) Bill – Pauline Duddy oral evidence
The following witnesses joined the meeting at 9.39am:
Pauline Duddy, victim and campaigner for Jasmin’s Law;
Leann McLoughlin, victim and campaigner for Jasmin’s Law; and
Tracey Poole, victim and campaigner for Jasmin’s Law.
The witnesses provided oral evidence on the proposal to include Jasmin’s Law – which aims to secure tougher sentencing for drug dealers and to ensure the law recognises the real-life consequences of such crimes – within the Criminal Justice (Sentencing etc) Bill.
Patsy McGlone joined the meeting at 9.54am.
Aoife Finnegan left the meeting at 10.12am.
Brian Kingston left the meeting at 10:13am.
The oral evidence was followed by a question-and-answer session.
The evidence session was recorded by Hansard.
The Chairperson thanked the witnesses and they left the meeting at 10.15am.
4. Criminal Justice (Sentencing etc) Bill – Men’s Advisory Project oral evidence
The following witness joined the meeting at 10.16am:
Rhonda Lusty, Chief Executive Officer, Men’s Advisory Project,
The witness provided oral evidence on the Criminal Justice (Sentencing etc) Bill.
The oral evidence was followed by a question-and-answer session.
Connie Egan left the meeting at 10.58am.
During the evidence session, the witness agreed to provide information on their views on Part 4 of the Bill regarding Unduly Lenient Sentences and whether the provisions of that Part of the Bill apply where the Magistrates Court passes a sentence on the person in respect of an offence.
The evidence session was recorded by Hansard.
The Chairperson thanked the witness and they left the meeting at 11.08am.
5. Date, Time and Place of the next meeting
Members were advised that the next meeting will take place on Thursday 8 October at 2pm in Room 30, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting was adjourned at 11.09am.
Paul Frew MLA
Chairperson, Committee for Justice
13 October 2026
