Court archive
Court reports mentioning Legan, Longford
2022-06-24 · Longford
The Court of Appeal has increased the prison term of Nathan Doherty (24), of Legan, Co Longford, who was convicted of a violent attack on Derek Murphy. Doherty pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm and producing an article capable of causing serious harm. He was originally sentenced by Judge Keenan Johnson at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court to six years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended for ten years, plus €30,000 in compensation. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed the suspended portion, arguing the reduction was a substantial departure from similar cases. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, reading the three-judge court's decision, quashed the original sentence on grounds of deterrence. He re-sentenced Doherty to six years' imprisonment with the final year suspended for two years. The financial restitution was severed from the custodial term via a separate order under Section 6 of the Criminal Procedures Act. Doherty is now ordered to pay €25,000 in compensation to Mr Murphy in annual instalments of €5,000, commencing ten months after his release. The court noted the attack was extremely violent, involving a broken curtain pole forced into the victim's anus. Separately, Derek Doherty (52), of Vicarstown, Ballymahon, Co Longford, was recently sentenced to 80 months in prison, with the final 17 months suspended, at Longford Circuit Criminal Court for his role in the incident. Counsel for Nathan Doherty argued his client was goaded by his father, while the DPP maintained the original sentence was insufficient censure.
2022-06-23 · Longford
The Court of Appeal heard an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions regarding the sentence imposed on Nathan Doherty (24), of Legan, Co Longford. Doherty pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm and producing an article capable of causing serious harm for an attack on Derek Murphy in June 2018. He was sentenced to six years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended for ten years, and ordered to pay €30,000 in victim compensation. The DPP argued the suspended portion was unduly lenient, describing the assault as vile and sadistic. In response, counsel for Doherty highlighted mitigating factors, including his status as a first-time offender and his early guilty plea. Counsel also referenced the separate sentencing of Derek Doherty (52), of Vicarstown, Ballymahon, Co Longford, who was sentenced to 80 months in prison with the final 17 months suspended for his role in the incident. The defence argued that the father had instructed the son to attack the victim. The Court of Appeal has reserved its judgement on the appeal.
2017-05-02 · Longford
William Mannion, 49, of Clygeen, Legan, Co Longford, appeared at the Central Criminal Court for sentencing. He pleaded guilty to seven charges, including three counts of anal rape and one sexual assault of a niece aged seven between June and August 2006. He also admitted to sexually assaulting her older sister three years prior, when she was seven, and two charges each of sexually assaulting their then nine-year-old and 16-year-old cousins between October 2001 and June 2010. Prosecution counsel Gerard Clarke SC noted the victims consented to Mannion's identification but requested anonymity for themselves. Defence counsel Mary Rose Gearty SC highlighted Mannion's low intellectual functioning, unemployment, and inability to read or write. She also referenced his 1997 conviction for unlawful carnal knowledge of a 14-year-old. Although the validated stage is sentence, Mr Justice McCarthy remanded Mannion in continuing custody until May 11 for sentence. The court heard detailed allegations regarding the nature of the assaults, including instances where Mannion allegedly covered victims' mouths or threatened them. Victim impact reports were submitted but not read. The matter was adjourned to May 11 for the final sentencing hearing.