Kevin Mulcahy, a 57‑year‑old GP from Creggan, Lombardstown, Mallow, Co Cork, was found guilty of indecently assaulting a 15‑year‑old female patient on 23 December 1989. He pleaded not guilty to the single charge, but a jury convicted him after 39 minutes of deliberation at the Cork Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin sentenced him to two years' imprisonment on 25 November 2015. Mulcahy had been granted bail in December 2015 pending an appeal against conviction, which was dismissed by the Court of Appeal on 13 October 2016. Justice John Edwards ruled that Mulcahy had regularly visited the patient's home to treat her mother, who had terminal cancer, and that during one visit he touched the patient's vagina on the outside of her clothing. He was arrested and interviewed in 2011 following a complaint of indecent assault.
Anthony Kelleher, 42, was given an eight‑year sentence for seriously assaulting his wife, Siobhán, in Macroom on 12 June 2014. He pleaded not guilty, but a jury found him guilty of assault causing serious harm. Kelleher was released after a successful appeal, but the Court of Appeal ruled he did not receive a fair trial and ordered a retrial. The appeal focused on the admission of two statements made by Siobhán while she was a patient in hospital, which were allowed under an exceptional provision of the Criminal Justice Act. The Court found that the trial judge failed to intervene when Siobhán refused to answer questions, preventing effective cross‑examination, and that the presentation of Prof. Cusack's evidence was unfair. Kelleher remains on bail and is due to appear again on 25 October at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.
Anthony Kelleher, 42, of Macroom, was convicted in May 2015 of assault causing serious harm to his wife Siobhán and sentenced to eight years. He had pleaded not guilty and his wife refused to testify, though her earlier statements to Gardaí were admitted under section 16. Kelleher's appeal, heard by the Court of Appeal, was allowed by Justice Garrett Sheehan, who noted that the appeal was largely based on the handling of the section 16 statements and the judge's directions to the jury. The appeal decision will be formalised in a forthcoming judgment, and the court will decide whether a retrial is required. Kelleher will be released from prison following the successful appeal.
In 2008, Perry Wharrie, aged 56, was convicted in a Cork Circuit Criminal Court for his role in a failed €440m cocaine smuggling operation off the Irish coast. He received a 30‑year sentence, the longest for a drug offence in the State, which was later reduced to 17½ years on appeal. Wharrie's conviction was upheld after a 42‑day trial, and his appeal was dismissed. He now seeks a new appeal to the Supreme Court, arguing that he should not have been charged with sale and supply because the drugs were not destined for Ireland. The Director of Public Prosecutions opposes the application, contending that Wharrie did not admit the drugs were intended for another jurisdiction and that the prosecution must prove intent to supply within Ireland. The Court of Criminal Appeal has reserved judgment on the application, with no decision date announced. Wharrie was not present in court but observed proceedings via video link from prison.
Anthony Kelleher, 42, of Macroom, Cork, was found guilty of assault causing serious harm to his wife Siobhán on 12 June 2014 and sentenced to eight years in prison by Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin in May 2016. He pleaded not guilty and his wife refused to testify against him. Kelleher applied for bail pending an appeal, but the Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, declined to grant bail because the State had not provided any grounds for it. The court set a hearing for 29 July and ordered the expedited preparation of trial transcripts. Kelleher's appeal will focus on the use of section 16 statements and the judge's directions to the jury. The State will have two weeks to respond after Kelleher files his submissions. His sister, who travelled from Bantry, offered surety for a potential bail.
Jonathan O'Sullivan, 36, of Barrett's Building, Cork, was convicted of burglary at a city address on 22 July 2013. After a two‑day trial, a jury found him guilty and Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin sentenced him to three years' imprisonment on 27 July 2015. O'Sullivan appealed the conviction. The Court of Appeal, sitting with Justices Garrett Sheehan, George Birmingham and Alan Mahon, dismissed the appeal. Justice Sheehan held that the prosecution was not required to notify the defence of rebuttal evidence before the trial. The prosecution's case relied mainly on the occupier's testimony, who saw O'Sullivan in her kitchen at about 7.40 am, claimed he had taken €100 and had gone through bags and jackets, and later identified him in a formal parade. O'Sullivan's alibi that he was in Little Island with his girlfriend was rebutted by evidence placing him at his mother's house at the same time. Jonathan O'Sullivan pleaded not guilty.
Anthony O'Sullivan, 29, of Togher, Cork, had pleaded guilty to robbery and attempted robbery at a shop in Cork City on 13 January 2014. He was originally sentenced by Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin to five years' imprisonment, the final year suspended. On appeal, Judge Garrett Sheehan re‑sentenced him to four years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended. Sheehan noted that O'Sullivan entered the shop with a wheel brace and a scarf covering his face, shouted at the shop assistant for money, and when she refused, seized a purse from a nearby student. The items taken were worth €320. O'Sullivan, who had 423 prior convictions, was 28 at sentencing, lived with his father, was addicted to heroin, and was a father to a young child. The Court of Appeal found problems in the original sentencing process, including a lack of a proper summary of his criminal record and an unsatisfactory assessment of mitigating factors.
Jerzy Broszczack, a 25‑year‑old Polish drug dealer, lost an appeal against a condition imposed by the Cork Circuit Criminal Court that he must depart Ireland upon release from a seven‑year sentence, of which three years were suspended. He pleaded guilty to possession of €18,000 worth of cannabis in Crookstown, Co Cork, and was sentenced on 4 November 2014. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice John Edwards, rejected the appeal, citing evidence that Broszczack had no meaningful ties to Ireland, spoke mainly Polish, had no family in the country, and had been present for only eight months. The judge noted that the condition was reasonable and proportionate, and that Broszczack had voluntarily entered the bond. The appeal was dismissed on all grounds.
Jordan O'Donovan, aged 20, pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm after striking a man with a glass in the Savoy nightclub on 27 December 2013. He was sentenced by Cork Circuit Criminal Court to three years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. The Director of Public Prosecutions sought a review, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient, but the Court of Appeal rejected the application, finding the balance of the sentence was not so wrong as to be unduly lenient. Judge George Birmingham noted the assault resulted in a very serious eye injury to the victim, who had not fully recovered sight at sentencing. O'Donovan, an 18‑year‑old first‑time offender with no prior convictions, had shown genuine remorse and had engaged with Gardaí. The court upheld the original sentence, refusing the DPP's request for a review. The case highlighted the serious impact of glass‑assaults on victims.
Martin Doyle, 25, of Mount Eden Rise, Cork, pleaded guilty to burglary and arson at the home of an 81‑year‑old widower on Blarney Street on 15 October 2014. He had previously received a three‑year robbery sentence that was fully suspended to encourage treatment for heroin addiction. The Circuit Court reactivated that sentence and, on 17 June 2015, imposed a seven‑year term with the final two years suspended, giving Doyle a net ten‑year sentence with two years suspended. The Court of Appeal upheld the sentence, ruling it could not be described as excessive. The burglary and arson were deemed "extremely serious"; the victim, now 85, was left homeless for seven months and suffered loss of personal memorabilia. Doyle had 25 prior convictions and had been imprisoned eight times. The appeal was dismissed.
Derek Lynch, 38, was jailed for nine years for robbing the Friar's Road Post Office in Cork on 20 May 2012, with the final year suspended. He was convicted of robbery and possession of a firearm. The conviction was overturned by the Court of Appeal because evidence that he owned the motorcycle used in the robbery was taken from the Garda PULSE system and was deemed hearsay. The Court held that the PULSE system requires human input and therefore could not be admitted as evidence of ownership. The judge noted that the robbery involved a raider who used a sledgehammer to break into the cashier area, stole about €2,000, and fled on a motorcycle. The Court quashed Lynch's conviction and ordered a retrial, remanding him on bail with conditions to the Cork Circuit Criminal Court. Derek Lynch pleaded not guilty.
A priest who was jailed for hiring men who claimed to be from the Continuity IRA to issue death threats and intimidate his nephew into dropping legal action against him has lost his appeal against his sentence. Francis Kelleher (60), from Cloughduv, pleaded guilty to four counts of coercion in relation to compelling his nephew to abstain from doing an act he had a lawful right to do between June 2012 and January 2013. He was sentenced to four years imprisonment by Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin at Cork Circuit Criminal Court on April 30, 2015. Dismissing Kelleher's appeal against the severity of his sentence today, Mr Justice Alan Mahon stated that an attempt to stop an individual from pursuing legal proceedings was a very serious matter, even where the threats may be mild. The judge noted that the threats were 'particularly nasty' and caused significant fear for Kelleher's nephew and his family. The use of the Continuity IRA's name to instill maximum fear was described as 'particularly reprehensible'. Kelleher's barrister, Thomas Creed SC, argued that his client was a 'broken man' and that a portion of his sentence should have been suspended. However, Mr Justice Mahon stated that the sentence imposed was within the sentencing judge's discretion, given the number of offences and their nature. The appeal was dismissed by Mr Justice Mahon, who sat with Mr Justice George Birmingham and Mr Justice Paul Butler.
Trevor O'Sullivan, 40, of Curraheen Drive, Bishopstown, Cork, pleaded guilty to attempted aggravated burglary at the home of businessman Pat Glavin in Glanmire on 11 August 2013. He was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended, by Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin on 25 February 2014. O'Sullivan's appeal against the severity of the sentence was dismissed by Mr Justice George Birmingham in the Court of Appeal. Birmingham noted that the offence involved an intended invasion of a family home by armed men, that Gardaí had been forewarned and had observed a reconnaissance operation on 29 July 2013, and that a Remington shotgun was recovered with live ammunition. O'Sullivan had prior convictions for public order offences, criminal damage and a drug‑related offence. The judge upheld the sentence as severe but necessary. The appeal was dismissed.
In February 2016, the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal of Indian national Dileesh Soman, 33, who had been sentenced to four years' imprisonment with the final 12 months suspended for sexually assaulting a 30‑year‑old postgraduate student in Cork City on 11 November 2013. Soman, who had lived and worked in Ireland for over six years, had used the alias 'Aaron' and entered the victim's apartment after she had advertised a room on daft.ie. During the assault he forced her to expose parts of her body, touched her breasts, opened her jeans, and inserted his hand into her vagina, while making remarks such as 'nothing bad is going on' and 'it's okay, we're not going to have sex here.' The victim, who had never advertised for a flatmate before, later reported the incident to the Gardaí. Dileesh Soman pleaded guilty.
Perry Wharrie, 56, from Loughton, Essex, was sentenced to 30 years in 2008 for his role in Ireland's largest drug seizure of €440 million, a haul that went awry at Dunlough Bay in 2007. He pleaded not guilty to possession for sale or supply and was found guilty by a Cork Circuit Criminal Court jury. Wharrie's appeal in 2016 was successful; the Court of Criminal Appeal ruled that the original judge had erred by not fully crediting Wharrie's refusal to give false evidence and by not considering his prior life sentence in England for the murder of PC Frank Mason. The appeal reduced his term to 17 ½ years, with a five‑year discount for good conduct, and the sentence is to run from the date of his initial custody. Wharrie's case was the last before the Court of Criminal Appeal before it was succeeded by the Court of Appeal.
Kris Collins, 25, of Murphy's Rock, Old Mallow Road, Cork, pleaded guilty to a headbutt assault on a man in Cork City on 7 September 2014. The assault caused serious harm, leading to a clot between the skull and brain and emergency neurosurgery. He was originally sentenced to eight years' imprisonment on 17 June 2015. On appeal, the Court of Appeal re‑sentenced him to five years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended on condition of a two‑year good‑behaviour bond. The judge noted the victim's wife had been told to "prepare for the worst" and that the victim's life had been severely disrupted, including financial hardship. Collins had 15 prior convictions, had paid €4,000 in compensation, and had offered cooperation and a guilty plea, factors cited as mitigating in the appeal decision.
Perry Wharrie, 56, an Englishman, is awaiting a new sentencing decision after a 30‑year prison term was overturned on appeal for his role in Ireland's largest drug seizure. The 2007 haul of €440 million in cocaine was recovered off Dunlough Bay when a rigid inflatable boat, carrying 1.5 tonnes of the drug, sank after its petrol engine was filled with diesel. Wharrie was found guilty of possession for sale or supply by a Cork Circuit Criminal Court jury and sentenced by Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin to 30 years imprisonment on 23 July 2008. Two accomplices received 30 and 25 years respectively, while a third who pleaded guilty was jailed for ten years. The Court of Criminal Appeal ruled that the original sentence was too severe, and a new, lower sentence will be imposed on 15 February. The case highlights the scale of the seizure and the legal process for reviewing sentencing in Ireland. Perry Wharrie pleaded not guilty.
Kevin Mulcahy, a 57‑year‑old GP from Creggan, was jailed for two years after being found guilty of indecently assaulting a 15‑year‑old girl in 1989. He pleaded not guilty to the single charge. The conviction was reached after 39 minutes of jury deliberation in the Cork Circuit Criminal Court. On 25 November, Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin sentenced him. On 17 December, the Court of Appeal granted him bail pending an appeal, with conditions including signing in at a Cork Garda station three times a week. The appeal is scheduled for 9 February next year.
The Court of Criminal Appeal adjourned the hearing of Perry Wharrie, a 56‑year‑old Englishman from Loughton, Essex, whose appeal against a 30‑year prison sentence for his role in the €440 million drug seizure at Dunlough Bay in 2007 was set to be heard. The appeal was delayed because the prison escort from Portlaoise Prison failed to arrive at the court on time. Wharrie had pleaded not guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply, was found guilty by a Cork Circuit Criminal Court jury, and was sentenced to 30 years by Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin on 23 July 2008. The Court of Criminal Appeal, comprising Justices McMenamin, Moriarty and Hunt, noted the escort's failure as "not very satisfactory" and adjourned the case to 11 January 2016. The court also remarked that Wharrie had previously been late at a hearing and that prison authorities had been specifically requested to prevent a repeat.
Sean Casey, 27, of Cooragannive, Skibbereen, was convicted of dangerous driving that caused the death of Megan Johnston, 22, and serious bodily harm to Kate Petford, 24, in a 2013 crash. He was originally sentenced to seven years' imprisonment and a 30‑year driving disqualification. In July 2015 the Court of Appeal found the sentence too severe and reduced it to five years, suspending the final twelve months. The disqualification remained. The Court considered victim impact reports from the Petfords and the Johnsons, a psychologist's report on Casey's mental state, and the principle of proportionality. The final sentence was five years' imprisonment with the last year suspended, and a 30‑year driving ban that will continue to affect Casey's rehabilitation. The decision was made after a successful appeal and a hearing in the Cork Circuit Criminal Court. The case remains a record of the Court's approach to dangerous driving convictions. Sean Casey pleaded guilty.
Patrick Bassett, 80, of Glanmire, Cork, was jailed for 4 years after pleading guilty to 22 counts of indecent assault on a 10‑year‑old boy and one count against the boy's brother in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The Court of Appeal, hearing on 13 October 2015, suspended the final 12 months of his sentence, citing his early guilty plea and the fact that the abuse was systematic, involving daily acts of masturbation, oral sex and an attempted buggery. The judge noted the victims' vulnerability, their lack of a father figure, and that Bassett had inserted himself as a surrogate. The suspended period is to be followed by 12 months of post‑release supervision, a €100 bond, and probation service oversight. Bassett denied remorse and had been assaulted in prison by a younger inmate. The decision was made by Justices Birmingham, Sheehan and Edwards.
Niall Fitzpatrick, 48, from Corrin Close, the Glen, Cork, faces a retrial after successfully appealing his conviction for attempted aggravated burglary and the possession of a pump action shotgun and ammunition at the home of Patrick Glavin in Glanmire on August 11, 2013. Fitzpatrick had pleaded not guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. Following a three-week trial, a jury found him guilty, and Judge David Riordan sentenced him to 14 years imprisonment on November 13, 2014. On appeal, counsel Brendan Nix SC argued that the trial was compromised by the judge's failure to properly discharge a juror who sought to be excused. Nix SC stated that the Court Registrar entered the jury room to resolve the matter privately, a process that deprived both parties of input. The appellate court, comprising Mr Justice George Birmingham, Mr Justice Alan Mahon, and Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, agreed that this procedure was unsatisfactory. Mr Justice Birmingham noted that Fitzpatrick may have been left with an understandable sense of grievance due to the lack of public administration of justice in that instance. Consequently, the court quashed the conviction and ordered a retrial. Fitzpatrick was remanded in custody to appear before Cork Circuit Criminal Court on October 28.
Christopher Wiggins, a British citizen residing in Spain, has lost his appeal against a conviction for possession of cocaine for sale or supply. Wiggins pleaded guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court in November 2008 after 1.9 tonnes of cocaine, valued at over €400 million, were discovered on the vessel 'Dances With Waves' 250km off the Irish coast. He was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by Mr Justice Carroll Moran on May 8, 2009. In May, Wiggins, representing himself, moved to appeal his conviction. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice Seán Ryan alongside Mr Justice Gerard Hogan and Mr Justice Alan Mahon, dismissed the appeal. The court held that Wiggins could not reopen his guilty plea, which he entered with full legal advice and in exchange for a reduced sentence. Mr Justice Ryan noted that Wiggins had not demonstrated that his plea was invalidated by erroneous advice, failing to surmount the high threshold required. The judge acknowledged the case's complexity, including potential legal issues regarding the vessel's boarding, but ruled that Wiggins had waived the possibility of acquittal by pleading guilty. Co-accused Philip Doo, a British citizen from Devon, withdrew his appeal before proceedings commenced. The matter was concluded with the dismissal of Wiggins' appeal.
Rory O'Brien, 60, of Killicane, Mitchelstown, Cork, pleaded guilty to five counts of animal cruelty for failing to treat pigs that were found eaten alive on his farm between May and September 2011. He was originally sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment by Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin on 12 February 2015. On appeal, Ken Fogarty SC argued that the judge had been influenced by facts about other counts that were not before the court. The Court of Appeal, led by Justice Garrett Sheehan, upheld the need for a custodial sentence but reduced the term to 12 months, suspending the final six months. The decision acknowledged O'Brien's personal circumstances, including significant debt and his previous good character, while maintaining that the offences were "extremely serious.".
In 2008, Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin sentenced Perry Wharrie, 56, to 30 years' imprisonment for his role in the €440 million drug seizure at Dunlough Bay, the largest in Irish history. Wharrie, who pleaded not guilty to possession for sale, was found guilty by a Cork Circuit Criminal Court jury. Two accomplices received 30 and 25 years, while a fourth who pleaded guilty was jailed for ten years. The Court of Criminal Appeal, led by Justice John McMenamin, ruled that the judge erred in imposing the 30‑year sentence and granted Wharrie the opportunity for a fresh sentencing hearing, possibly in October. The appeal decision will be detailed later, but the court has not yet altered the sentence. The case highlights the severity of the original penalty and the appeal's focus on procedural error.
Samantha Corbett, 30, was sentenced to three years in prison for punching a nurse at Mercy University Hospital's A&E on 26 July 2014. The judge suspended the final twelve months of the sentence. On appeal, Mr Justice John Edwards reduced her net jail term to fifteen months. The reduction was based on Corbett's intoxication at the time, her lack of recollection, her young child in care, and her substance‑abuse history. The Court of Appeal also required her to pay a €100 bond, to keep the peace, and to remain of good behaviour for the suspended portion of her sentence and for two years after release. The nurse, who had worked in the emergency department for 22 years, said the assault caused her daily neck pain and disrupted her family life. Corbett accepted the conditions imposed by the court. The unnamed woman pleaded guilty.
Niall Fitzpatrick, 48, from Corrin Close, Glen, Cork, was convicted of attempted aggravated burglary and possession of a pump‑action shotgun and ammunition at Patrick Glavin's home in Glanmire on 11 August 2013. He pleaded not guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. After a three‑week trial, a jury found him guilty and Judge David Riordan sentenced him to 14 years' imprisonment on 13 November 2014. On 16 June 2015 Fitzpatrick lodged an appeal on 16 grounds, alleging the judge failed to discharge the jury on several matters. His counsel, Brendan Nix SC, argued that evidence from Garda Dan Lucey was prejudicial and that a juror had been improperly excused after the judge allowed the Court Registrar to enter the jury room and discuss the case. Mr Nix said the registrar's conversation was not publicly recorded and that justice must be administered in public.
Edward Bryan, a former Christian Brother aged 61, was returned to prison after an appeal. He had been convicted in 2013 of indecently assaulting three boys at North Monastery secondary school in Cork between 1984 and 1990, on seven of ten counts. He had been sentenced to five years imprisonment, but a 2013 bail allowed him to challenge the conviction and sentence. In May 2015, one count was quashed, the others upheld, and the appeal dismissed. During the sentence appeal, Bryan cited a Court of Appeal ruling that the maximum sentence for indecently assaulting a male at that time was two years, not ten. The Court of Appeal, however, imposed three consecutive 10‑month sentences, totaling two‑and‑a‑half years in prison. The judge noted Bryan's role as a teacher, his involvement in basketball, the nature of the abuse, and his otherwise good character. He was taken to custody and returned to prison. Edward Bryan pleaded not guilty.
Sean Casey, 27, of Cooragannive, Skibbereen, was found guilty of dangerous driving causing the death of Megan Johnston, 22, and serious bodily harm to Kate Petford, 24, who was left paralysed after a crash at Skibbereen on 8 April 2013. He was sentenced by Cork Circuit Criminal Court to seven years imprisonment and a 30‑year driving disqualification on 17 February 2014. Casey, who drove a silver BMW that was 4.1 times over the legal alcohol limit, is appealing the sentence. His counsel, Tom Creed SC, argues the judge ignored rehabilitation possibilities and was unduly influenced by a victim impact report. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Lorcan Staines BL, emphasised the high speed (80 km/h) and excessive alcohol consumption, noting five people were in the vehicle. The appeal will be heard by the Court of Appeal on 9 July 2024.
An Italian man, Viorel Postolahce (32), has lost his appeal against a conviction for sexually assaulting a woman at Crosse's Green Quay on July 17, 2012. Postolahce had pleaded not guilty to the charge and was found guilty by a jury at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. He was sentenced to two-and-a-half years imprisonment, with the final year suspended, by Judge David Riordan on November 28, 2014. During the appeal, Postolahce argued that a 'cross-racial identification' parade should have been conducted and that the jury should have been discharged following the victim's evidence. The victim testified that the incident lasted ten seconds and that her car was parked halfway up a road. Mr Justice George Birmingham dismissed the appeal, stating that the victim's description was in everyday language and did not require a specific direction from the trial judge. The judge also noted that no identification parade took place, and the victim did not attempt to identify Postolahce. The appeal was dismissed by Mr Justice Birmingham, who was joined by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan and Mr Justice John Edwards.
A man from Cork has had his sentence backdated following a successful appeal to the Court of Appeal. Nicky O'Driscoll, aged 37, of Killala Gardens, Knocknaheeny, pleaded guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to burglary at Inishannon on 7 January 2014. He received a three-year sentence with the final six months suspended in May 2014. O'Driscoll appealed on the basis that the sentencing judge had been incorrectly informed of his previous convictions for burglary. Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan found the sentencing court had been told O'Driscoll had 20 previous burglary convictions when he in fact had eight among his 68 total convictions. The judge described this as a clear error in principle, though not attributable to fault on the part of the trial judge. The Court of Appeal upheld the original sentence but backdated it to 12 May 2014 to account for the misinformation. O'Driscoll was also required to enter into his own bond of €100 for 12 months.
Three burglars—James Cash (28), Thomas Wall (23), and William Wall (32)—were convicted at Cork Circuit Criminal Court on four burglary counts committed in Cork City on 1–2 December 2012. They had been acquitted of three other burglary counts and of possessing burglary implements. Cash received a seven‑year sentence with one year suspended; the Walls each received seven years with two years suspended. On appeal, all three had their sentences reduced. Cash was sentenced to four years with 21 months suspended, giving an effective custodial term of 3 years 9 months. The Walls each received four years with two years suspended, giving an effective custodial term of 2 years 10 months. The appeal court noted Cash's extensive prior record and the Walls' lack of significant convictions, and adjusted the starting points accordingly. The new sentences were imposed by Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin on 4 February 2014.
Michael Riordan, aged 49, was convicted of 21 counts of sexual assault against his step‑daughter between September 2007 and November 2012. A jury found him guilty on nine counts and acquitted him on the rest by direction. He received a sentence of two‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment on 4 July 2014. Riordan appealed, arguing that facts disclosed in the victim's impact statement – such as the accused allegedly breaking the shower on purpose and his alleged dislike of the victim until she was 13 – contradicted her evidence and should have led to the withdrawal of the remaining counts. The Court of Appeal rejected the appeal, stating the new facts were minor and did not affect the fairness of the trial or the cross‑examination. Riordan was ordered to serve the remainder of his sentence in prison. The victim had waived anonymity, allowing the court to publish his identity. Michael Riordan pleaded not guilty.
A British man, Christopher Wiggins (48), who was found on a boat holding more than €400 million worth of cocaine off the Irish coast, has appealed his conviction. Wiggins pleaded guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cocaine for sale or supply on November 5, 2008, when the boat 'Dances With Waves' was boarded 250km off the Irish coast. He was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by Mr Justice Carroll Moran on May 8, 2009. Representing himself, Wiggins argued that a section 15A sale or supply drugs offence could not have been levied against him as the offence was committed outside the State and no importation was involved. He also claimed the boarding of the boat by Irish authorities was unlawful. The Navy Boarding Party, which was also an appellant, admitted to possession of cocaine for sale or supply on November 5, 2008, when the boat was boarded. Philip Doo (58), one of Wiggins' co-accused, withdrew his appeal before proceedings commenced. The court heard that the boat 'Dances With Waves' was flying the British Red Ensign but was not registered. Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Thomas Creed SC, stated that the boarding was lawful and that there was no basis for Wiggins' argument regarding section 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act. The court has reserved judgment and will deliver its decision as soon as possible.
Trevor Williamson, a 48‑year‑old taxi driver from Carrigaline, Co. Cork, was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment with the final two years suspended by Judge Patrick Moran in the Cork Circuit Criminal Court in May 2014. The sentence followed his conviction for possession of 99 kg of cannabis resin, valued at €594 000, found in nine boxes he had taken from a house during a Garda surveillance operation. Williamson's co‑accused was given a wholly suspended sentence. The Court of Appeal rejected Williamson's appeal, noting that the sentence was not excessive but that there was a significant disparity between his sentence and that of his co‑accused. The judge highlighted that Williamson had recruited the co‑accused and that the quantity and value of the drugs were substantial, justifying the imposed term within the statutory range for the offence. The appeal was dismissed by Mr Justice George Birmingham.