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Mon 04 Apr 2003Life sentences to mean longer jail term - McDowellCriminals given life sentences can expect to serve longer terms in future than is the case now, the Minister for Justice and Law Reform, Mr McDowell said today.Speaking at the presentation of the Courts Service strategic plan 2002 - 2005. The Minister said there was a perception that people given life sentences only serve between seven and 10 years of their sentence.