Judge Marin Nolan.

Petion to remove Judge Martin Nolan

Multiple petitions have been launched calling for the resignation or removal of Judge Martin Nolan, an Irish Circuit Court judge, primarily due to public dissatisfaction with his sentencing decisions. These petitions, hosted on platforms like Change.org, have collectively gathered tens of thousands of signatures, with one petition reportedly exceeding 45,000. The main criticisms focus on what many perceive as excessively lenient sentences for serious crimes, including cases involving child sexual abuse material, sexual assault, and violent offenses. For example, Nolan has been criticized for issuing suspended sentences in cases such as:

• A man found with 901 images and 146 videos of child abuse, where Nolan cited public shaming as sufficient punishment.
• A civil servant with over 60,000 child abuse images, who received a fully suspended sentence because the shame brought on his family was deemed enough.
• A violent attack on a woman, where the offender received a suspended sentence, contrasted with a six-year sentence Nolan imposed for a non-violent offense involving garlic importation fraud.

Public sentiment, as reflected in posts on X, shows strong frustration, with users describing Nolan’s rulings as “sinister” and a “danger to society,” and some speculating about underlying reasons for his leniency toward certain offenders. Protests have also occurred, such as one outside the Dáil on March 5, 2025, demanding his resignation.

However, removing a judge in Ireland is not straightforward. Under Article 35.4 of the Irish Constitution, a judge may only be removed by resolutions passed by both Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann for “stated misbehaviour or incapacity.” No judge has been removed since the foundation of the state, indicating the high bar for such action. Critics argue that while petitions raise awareness, they are unlikely to lead to Nolan’s removal without concrete evidence of misconduct or a significant political push. Some legal professionals have also defended judicial independence, cautioning against public backlash influencing sentencing, and note that Nolan’s sentences, while controversial, often fall within existing legal guidelines.

On the other side, supporters of the petitions argue that Nolan’s pattern of leniency—particularly in cases involving sexual and violent crimes—undermines public confidence in the justice system and fails victims. They point to cases like a man who attacked a toddler with a blowtorch receiving only 20 months or a motorist who killed a motorcyclist receiving a suspended sentence. These decisions are seen as disproportionately soft compared to harsher penalties for financial crimes, fueling perceptions of inconsistency or bias.

While petitions continue to circulate and gain traction, their effectiveness is debated. Some suggest that lobbying TDs or advocating for stricter sentencing guidelines might be more impactful than petitions alone. Others argue that the lack of a centralized sentencing database in Ireland makes it difficult to fully assess Nolan’s record, complicating efforts to prove systemic issues.

If you’re seeking to engage with these petitions, they can be found on Change.org, with titles like “Judge Martin Nolan resignation” or “Review Judge Nolan’s Rulings.” Be cautious of unverified claims on social media, as they may not fully reflect the complexities of judicial processes. For further action, contacting the Minister for Justice or local TDs could amplify concerns, though systemic change may require broader legal reforms.