Court archive
Court reports mentioning Granard, Longford
2024-03-21 · Longford
The Court of Appeal has quashed the original sentence of Edward 'Blondie' Stokes, increasing his prison term by four years. Stokes, 33, of Ferriskill, Granard, Co Longford, had previously pleaded not guilty to all counts but was found guilty by a unanimous jury after a nine-day trial. In January last year, Judge Kenneth Connolly sentenced him to three years for violent disorder, with the final six months suspended for 12 months. He also received concurrent sentences of two years and three months for endangerment and 18 months for the production of an article. The State successfully appealed on grounds of undue leniency. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, determined that the original headline sentence was incorrect given the aggravating factors, including the use of a shillelagh and the premeditated nature of the attack. The court set an appropriate headline sentence of eight years for violent disorder. After accounting for modest mitigation, Stokes was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with the final six months suspended. He must serve six-and-a-half years in jail. The other concurrent sentences remain as originally imposed.
2023-10-20 · Dublin
A 39-year-old woman from Granard, County Longford, has been sentenced to twelve months in prison following an assault on a prison officer at the Dochas Centre in Mountjoy Prison on 29 September 2021. Stephanie Martin pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The court heard that Martin grabbed food aggressively from the officer, placed her in a headlock, and pulled her hair, causing significant injury. The officer required hospital treatment and subsequently took a year off work, reporting ongoing anxiety and trauma. Judge Orla Crowe noted the seriousness of assaulting an officer in the course of duty and Martin's twenty-two previous convictions. However, the judge considered mitigating factors including Martin's early guilty plea, apology, and remorse. Martin has not come to garda attention since the incident. The headline sentence was set at eighteen months before reduction to twelve months.
2022-06-22 · Longford
A farmer from County Cavan has been awarded €13,400 by the Workplace Relations Commission following a finding of unfair dismissal. Padraig Cunningham was dismissed from Pat the Baker Unlimited, based in Granard, County Longford, in May 2020 after being accused of stealing waste flour from the facility. Mr Cunningham maintained he had removed the material, which included flour and waste dough, to prevent it entering the animal feed chain and had composted it on his own land. The company contended the waste could be sold for processing and that Mr Cunningham lacked authorisation to remove it. An appeal of his dismissal was subsequently upheld by management. However, adjudicating officer Marguerite Buckley determined the disciplinary process failed to comply with fair procedures and natural justice principles. She noted the practice was widely known within the organisation, no written warning had been issued, and Mr Cunningham's 24 years of service merited consideration. The commission concluded dismissal fell outside the range of reasonable responses available to the employer.
2022-04-25 · Longford
A Garda inspector stationed in Mullingar has succeeded in his High Court challenge against the Commissioner's refusal to backdate his promotion following a seven-month investigative delay. Inspector Tom Quinn was due for promotion to inspector rank in January 2019 but the advancement was suspended while the Garda Ombudsman investigated allegations arising from a shooting incident at Ferriskill near Granard, County Longford, in December 2018. GSOC subsequently determined that all complaints against the inspector were baseless and that he had acted lawfully. Mr Justice Charles Meenan ruled that denying the backdating amounted to wrongful penalisation over false accusations and breached constitutional rights to equality. The court quashed the Commissioner's refusal and ordered the promotion be backdated to January 2019, with legal costs awarded to the inspector. The judgment noted that failing to backdate would have allowed a private complainant to effectively determine promotion timelines contrary to established disciplinary procedures.
2021-12-09 · Longford
A senior garda has brought judicial review proceedings in the High Court challenging a decision not to backdate his promotion to inspector. Inspector Tom Quinn, stationed in Mullingar, County Westmeath, was scheduled for promotion in January 2019 but the advancement was delayed following allegations made against him in connection with a firearms incident near Granard, County Longford, in December 2018. Following investigation by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, Inspector Quinn was fully exonerated. His promotion ultimately proceeded in August 2019. The inspector seeks to have his promotion backdated to January, arguing the seven-month delay caused financial and reputational harm. The Garda Commissioner opposes the application, maintaining he exercised proper discretion by awaiting the investigation outcome before recommending promotion. Mr Justice Charles Meenan reserved judgment following the High Court hearing, with a decision expected in the new year.
2020-09-30 · Longford
A man from Longford has failed in his bid to overturn a drug-driving conviction at the Court of Appeal. Patrick Clyne was convicted by Longford District Court on 5 March 2019 of drug driving, receiving a twelve-month driving ban and a €250 fine. He was arrested at a Garda checkpoint on Market Street, Granard on 29 January 2018 after testing positive for cocaine. A blood sample subsequently revealed a concentration of 515.2 milligrammes per millilitre of cocaine. Clyne appealed on the basis that the arresting Garda had not properly applied section 13B(1) of the Road Traffic Act 2010, arguing that the omission of the word "or" in the legislation required multiple tests before a blood sample could be lawfully taken. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Ms Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh, rejected this interpretation, finding no ambiguity in the relevant statute and confirming that fulfilling any one of the prescribed conditions was sufficient.
2016-10-06 · Longford
A Longford woman has received a suspended sentence for her role in an assault on a fellow inmate at the Dochas Centre women's prison in Dublin. Marian Leddy, aged 31, of Barrack Street, Granard, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm to another prisoner on 26 May 2015. The court heard that Leddy held the victim's legs while a co-accused inflicted facial injuries using a broken cup. Judge Petria McDonnell imposed a three-month sentence, suspended in full for twelve months, taking into account Leddy's progress in addressing her heroin addiction and engagement with local support services. The judge noted that Leddy had played a lesser role than her co-accused and caused no direct injuries. The victim sustained minor cuts to her face with no permanent scarring. Leddy, who has 77 previous convictions predominantly for theft, told the court she was committed to turning her life around.
2016-07-13 · Longford
A 29-year-old man from Ballymahon, County Longford, has been sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court, with one year suspended, following his guilty plea to possession of component parts of an improvised explosive device at his home in June 2015. Paul Dodd accommodated the storage of IED materials, including shotgun cartridges, propellant, cardboard tubing and clingfilm, in exchange for a financial promise. The court heard Dodd was in dire financial circumstances at the time. His co-accused, Brendan Hope from County Westmeath, had previously received a three-year sentence for possession of a completed device discovered in a van during a search operation. The Special Criminal Court found Dodd's involvement less culpable than Hope's. A separate charge of IRA membership against Dodd was withdrawn by the State.
2015-06-26 · Longford
Two men appeared before an out-of-hours sitting of the Special Criminal Court on 26 June 2015, charged with membership of an unlawful organisation and explosives offences. Paul Dodd, aged 29, of St Matthews Park, Ballymahon, Co Longford, faced charges of IRA membership and possession of component parts of an improvised explosive device, including shotgun cartridges and related materials, discovered at his home on 24 June. He was also charged with possession of approximately 30 assorted shotgun cartridges at the same address. Brendan Hope, aged 49, of Springfield Cottages, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, was charged with IRA membership and possession of an improvised explosive device containing shotgun propellant powder, a 12-gauge cartridge, and other materials, found in Ballymahon on 24 June. Both men were arrested by members of the Special Detective Unit as part of investigations into dissident republican activity. Neither made any reply upon arrest. Both defence representatives indicated they would seek bail applications at a subsequent hearing. The court remanded both men in custody to appear on 1 July.
2015-01-30 · Longford
A Co Longford car dealer has been fined €25,000 by the High Court for breaching court orders made in favour of the Revenue. Mr Justice Sean Ryan declined to activate a suspended prison sentence against Pauraig Kane, formerly associated with Kane Motors in Granard, but found he had deliberately contravened undertakings previously given to the court, albeit to a limited extent. The judge determined that a monetary penalty was more appropriate than imprisonment given mitigating circumstances. Kane owes the Revenue €5.2 million in unpaid taxes. The case forms part of longstanding disputes between Revenue and businesses operating at the Granard premises. The court was satisfied Kane failed to comply with conditions requiring the sale of properties and clearing of vehicles from the yard, though the judge accepted certain explanations for non-compliance and noted the car business is transitioning away from the location.
2014-07-17 · Longford
The High Court heard an application by the Revenue Commissioners to lift a suspended six-month prison sentence imposed on a Granard car dealer in 2012 for contempt of court. Pauraig Kane, formerly involved with Kane Motors, owes €5.2 million in unpaid taxes dating from a 2004 assessment. The Revenue claimed Mr Kane breached conditions attached to the suspended sentence, including an obligation to clear vehicles from the yard and refrain from dealing in third-party cheques. The Revenue also alleged he failed to sell nine properties as undertaken to discharge his tax debt. Mr Kane's legal team opposed the application, denying deliberate non-compliance. The defendant maintained he had attempted to fulfil the court's orders, though he acknowledged no money had been paid to Revenue. He attributed difficulties with property sales to a solicitor's suspension and negative equity issues. The case was adjourned to continue.
2014-07-04 · Dublin
Balbriggan District Court heard various matters. James Reid pleaded guilty to hit and run, failing to stop, failing to provide information, failing to keep the vehicle at the scene, failing to report the incident, and having no tax. Judge Dermot Dempsey convicted Reid, fined him €400 for the hit and run offences, fined him €100 for no tax, and disqualified him from driving for six months. Piotr Boryslawski pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of cannabis. The judge ordered him to pay €300 to the Molly McNally Trust Fund by month's end, stating the charge would be struck out if paid. Several defendants were remanded on continuing bail. James Walsh, charged with cultivating cannabis, was adjourned to September 18 for service of the Book of Evidence. Gareth Lokko, alleged to have breached a barring order and caused criminal damage, was remanded to July 24. Kevin Harmon, alleged to have assaulted another man causing harm, was remanded to September 25 for DPP directions. Lorna Daly, alleged to have stolen petrol and used a false registration plate, was remanded to July 24 for a plea. Jandean Hyland, charged with assault causing harm, was remanded to July 31. Stephane Mbama, alleged to have dangerous driving and driving without insurance, was remanded to July 31. Michael Bollard, alleged to have breached a safety order, was granted bail with conditions and adjourned to July 17.