SENIOR judges yesterday signalled they plan to set up a sentencing database to cross-reference jail terms handed down to major drug dealers after intense criticism they are too lenient.

The move follows demands for more consistency in punishments for serious crime from the Director of Public Prosecutions James Hamilton and Justice Minister Michael McDowell.

Supreme Court Judge Mr Justice Joseph Finnegan said the judiciary is "looking at the establishment of a sentencing information system along the lines of systems currently being developed in other jurisdictions".

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