Northern Ireland[base ']s most senior judge tonight rejected accusations of lenient sentencing levelled by Chief Constable Hugh Orde.

In a statement released in response to Mr Orde[base ']s claims, the Lord Chief Justice, Sir Brian Kerr, refuted suggestions that judges were too soft.
[base "]I have no hesitation in rejecting any suggestion that judges in this jurisdiction pass sentences that are inappropriate,[per thou] he said.