Court archive
Court reports mentioning Loughglinn, Roscommon
2017-05-12 · Roscommon
A 70-year-old man has been sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment, with the balance suspended from June, at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for criminal damage. The defendant pleaded guilty to throwing a beer keg through the window of a jewellery store on Grafton Street in July 2015, causing over €8,300 in damage. Judge Melanie Greally noted the case was not routine, given the defendant's extensive custodial history. He had previously been convicted of the capital murder of Garda Henry Byrne near Loughglynn, County Roscommon in 1980 and served over 30 years in prison before his release in 2013 following a Supreme Court judgement on remission. The court heard he has twelve prior convictions and was intoxicated at the time of the offence. His barrister submitted that he had experienced mental health difficulties and expressed remorse, offering to compensate the jeweller from his pension.
2017-03-14 · Roscommon
Pat McCann, a 70-year-old convicted garda murderer, appeared before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court at the sentencing stage for criminal damage. He pleaded guilty to throwing a keg against the window of John Brereton Jewellers on Grafton Street on July 23, 2015, causing over €8,300 in damage. McCann was originally sentenced to death in 1980 for the capital murder of Garda Henry Byrne and Detective Garda John Morley during an armed robbery near Loughglynn, Co Roscommon. His sentence was commuted to 40 years, and he was released in 2013. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the matter until April 7 to allow for a probation report, noting McCann's extensive custody history and consistent criminal conduct since release. The prosecution highlighted 12 previous convictions, including arson and burglary, and stated McCann was intoxicated during the offence. Defence counsel Diarmaid McGuinness SC cited McCann's mental health history, his remorse, and his willingness to repay damages using pension funds. The court heard McCann has been in custody since December and hopes to secure accommodation with an adult child upon release. The matter was adjourned, not concluded.