Court archive
Limerick Circuit Criminal Court
2024-12-02 · Limerick
Cathal Crotty, a 22‑year‑old former soldier from Parkroe Heights, Ardnacrusha, was given a three‑year suspended sentence by Limerick Circuit Criminal Court in June for an unprovoked attack on Natasha O'Brien on O'Connell Street in May 2022. Crotty, who was serving in the Defence Forces at the time, grabbed O'Brien by the hair, punched her to the ground, and continued to hold her hair while striking her face until she lost consciousness. O'Brien suffered a broken nose, bruising, nightmares and panic attacks. After the assault Crotty boasted on Snapchat that he had "two to put her down, two to put her out." He was discharged from the army in July. The Director of Public Prosecution has appealed the suspended sentence on the grounds of undue leniency. The appeal will be heard on 23 January, with counsel for Crotty applying for a second counsel, a request granted by Judge John Edwards. Cathal Crotty pleaded guilty.
2023-10-17 · Limerick
Patrick Shanahan, 76, a pensioner from Cooga, Doon, Co Limerick, was convicted in 2022 by a unanimous jury at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court on 14 counts of sexually assaulting his granddaughters Daria and Tara Tobin between 2010 and 2014. The abuse involved rubbing the girls' vaginas and later vaginal penetration by finger and tongue when they were aged 10 to 14. The assaults occurred in Shanahan's home, on nearby land and in his van. Shanahan appealed today on the Court of Appeal, arguing that the delay between the offences and the girls' complaints, inconsistencies in one complaint, and the admissibility of the aunt's evidence should have been challenged. He contended that the aunt's questioning was leading and that the complaint was not made at the first reasonable opportunity. The court has reserved judgment on the appeal. Patrick Shanahan pleaded not guilty.
2023-07-11 · Limerick
Larry O'Connor has failed in his appeal against his conviction for shooting at his cousin's house. The 40-year-old, of Ballykisteen, County Tipperary, was convicted by a jury on all six counts, including recklessly discharging a firearm, possession of a firearm and ammunition, aggravated burglary, and criminal damage, after pleading not guilty. He was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment in May 2022. O'Connor appealed on the ground that the trial judge erred in permitting prejudicial background evidence regarding a supposed feud. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, dismissed the application, stating the court was not persuaded the trial was unsatisfactory or the verdict unsafe. The court noted that motive is circumstantial evidence for the jury to weigh, especially where witnesses were well acquainted with the accused. During the incident in July 2019, O'Connor fired four shots into the home of his cousin, Danny Harty, where Harty, his partner, and infant twins were sleeping. His brother, Daniel O'Connor, of Limerick, who drove him to the scene, pleaded guilty to burglary with intent to commit reckless discharge of a firearm. Daniel O'Connor was jailed for seven years, with the final year suspended. The matter was not adjourned; the appeal was dismissed.
2023-03-24 · Limerick
Larry O'Connor, aged 40, was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment in May 2022 after a two‑week trial in which he was convicted of recklessly discharging a firearm, possession of a firearm and ammunition, aggravated burglary and criminal damage. The offence involved firing four shots from a pump‑action shotgun into the home of his first cousin, Danny Harty, where infant twins were sleeping. O'Connor fired two shots from outside the house, then entered and fired two more shots, striking a kitchen fridge, a window and a ceiling. He was found to have acted without a feud or "bad feeling" between the cousins, a point he raised on appeal. The Court of Appeal heard arguments about the use of the term "bad feeling" and the relevance of alleged animosity, but no judgment was issued. Daniel O'Connor, his brother, received a seven‑year sentence with the final year suspended for burglary. The appeal remains pending. Daniel O'Connor pleaded guilty.
2023-02-28 · Limerick
A 76‑year‑old pensioner from the southwest, whose identity is protected, has lodged an appeal against a six‑year conviction for sexually abusing three of his granddaughters, aged eight to eleven. He was found guilty on all 13 assault charges by a unanimous jury at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court in June 2021, with a two‑year suspended sentence. The appeal argues that no evidence justified the long gaps between the abuse and the girls' complaints. The first granddaughter reported inappropriate touching to her teacher in January 2014 and to Gardaí in 2016; the second and third girls made complaints in 2016 after confiding in a school friend. The appellant's counsel contended that the court had no basis to assess the reasonableness of the delays, citing a "doctrine of recent complaint." The judge noted that reasonableness, not speed, should guide the assessment, and the court would reserve judgment. The unnamed man pleaded not guilty.
2023-01-12 · Limerick
Jean Louis Fancony, a 39-year-old French national formerly of Limerick, appealed his conviction for assault causing serious harm to his flatmate, Tim Crowley. Fancony, who pleaded not guilty claiming self-defence, was convicted by a jury in November 2020 and sentenced to seven-and-a-half years' imprisonment in February 2021. Judge Tom O'Donnell described the injuries as "appalling" and "horrific." At the Court of Appeal, defence counsel James Dwyer SC argued that an alleged admission made to Garda Enda Clifford was inadmissible because it was not read back to or signed by Fancony. Dwyer contended this undermined the fairness of the trial, particularly regarding the spontaneity required for a self-defence argument. The State, represented by John O'Sullivan BL, submitted that the trial judge had delivered a reasoned ruling on admissibility and that the notebook's contents remained open to interpretation. The three-judge court, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, reserved its judgement. Consequently, the matter was adjourned and remains pending a final decision.
2022-04-04 · Limerick
Luke Barrett, aged 22, was sentenced to eight years in prison for two armed robberies in County Limerick, with 18 months of the sentence suspended. The first robbery, committed at 6:20 am on 6 July 2017, involved a knife threat and the theft of €340 from a family‑owned shop in Newcastle West. The second robbery, at 7 am on 15 August 2018, saw Barrett threaten staff at a service station in Locke Quay, Limerick, and later hold up a sandwich shop, taking €80. Judge Tom O'Donnell imposed two consecutive four‑year terms for the robberies and a concurrent two‑year term for an attempted robbery. Barrett appealed, arguing the first offence was his first and that the four‑year term was excessive. The Court of Appeal, hearing counsel Yvonne Quinn BL, found an error in principle and reduced the first term to three years, while increasing the suspended portion from 18 months to two years.
2022-02-14 · Limerick
Daniel Kelly, aged 35, was convicted and jailed for two years after a high‑speed chase in County Limerick. He had repeatedly rammed Garda patrol cars, driven at 130 kph in 80 kph zones, and collided with other vehicles while evading arrest. The jury found him guilty of one count of damaging property, one count of endangerment, and three counts of dangerous driving. He was banned from driving for six years. Kelly appealed, claiming the trial judge erred in law and fact, and that the judge failed to properly instruct the jury on the lack of forensic examination of his van. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, ruling that the judge's conduct was not unfair and that the jury instructions were adequate. The convictions and bans remain in force.
2020-02-17 · Limerick
Brendan Sheehan, a former project manager at Flextronics, was convicted of fraudulently claiming over €300,000 in overtime payments between 2010 and 2014. He pleaded guilty to multiple theft counts and was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, on 29 March 2019. Sheehan had overseen 'Project Stryker' and authorised overtime for ten employees, who then gave him a share of the payments, averaging €400 to €600 each. While some overtime work was performed, the exact amount could not be determined. After being released on a community service scheme, Sheehan's lawyers withdrew his appeal against the sentence, and the Court of Appeal allowed the withdrawal. The case was described by Judge O'Donnell as one of the most bizarre he had encountered.
2019-05-09 · Dublin
Three men—Patrick Roche (54), his son Philip Roche (25), and son‑in‑law Alan Freeman (38)—have lodged appeals against convictions for violent burglaries committed in rural County Limerick seven years ago. The convictions, obtained at the Limerick Circuit Criminal Court, stem from two separate incidents. In May 2012, the Roches broke into the isolated home of elderly siblings Willie, Nora, and Chrissie Creed near Pallasgreen, tied them up, assaulted them, and stole €5,000. Six weeks earlier, the trio had broken into the Garvey family home, tied up Mr and Mrs Garvey and their four children, threatened Mr Garvey with a gun, and fled with cash. Patrick Roche received a 17‑year sentence, Philip 15 years, and Freeman 14 years, each with a three‑year suspended portion. The appeals cite alleged errors in jury instructions, the legality of the arrests and detentions, and the admissibility of evidence. The case will be heard tomorrow by the Court of Appeal.
2019-02-01 · Limerick
In a 2017 Limerick Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Lithuanian national Aurimas Petraska, of Church Street, Rathkeale, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for a series of 2016 burglaries that stole €150,000 worth of women's clothing and Chanel beauty products across Tipperary, Cork and Limerick. Judge Tom O'Donnell described the gang as "professional" and the raids as "premeditated and planned down to the last detail and executed with military precision". The final 18 months of the sentence were suspended. Petraska had planned to appeal the severity of the sentence, but his barrister John Moher BL informed the Court of Appeal that he wished to withdraw the appeal. Judge George Birmingham, President of the Court of Appeal, noted that Petraska had received "extraordinarily well" in the Circuit Court and that proceeding with the appeal risked an increased sentence. The Court of Appeal allowed the withdrawal, following a landmark 2018 sentencing guideline for burglary offences. Aurimas Petraska pleaded guilty.
2018-12-10 · Limerick
Michael Sheehan, 29, of Cliona Park, Moyross, Limerick, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving that caused serious bodily harm to three elderly men on September 25, 2014, after a burglary spree. The victims were 79‑year‑old former hurler Eric Ryan, who lost a leg; William Barry, a retired Garda in his 70s, who suffered brain bleeding; and Dermot O'Brien, also in his 70s, who escaped injury but later died. Sheehan also pleaded guilty to two burglary counts on the same date and had more than 50 prior convictions. He admitted drinking eight bottles of cider and a naggin of vodka before the incident. Judge Tom O'Donnell sentenced him to five years' imprisonment, with a concurrent 12‑month term for the burglaries, and added a three‑year sentence for a May 2014 burglary. Sheehan had planned to appeal the sentence, but after the Court of Appeal's warning that sentences could be increased, his lawyer withdrew the appeal.
2018-07-02 · Limerick
Craig O'Donnell, aged 21, was convicted in 2014 of aggravated burglary, burglary, possession of a knife, robbery, possession of a firearm and escape from lawful custody in Limerick. He received a ten‑year sentence, with 18 months suspended, imposed by Judge Tom O'Donnell on 5 May 2017. In a Court of Appeal hearing, Mr Justice George Birmingham asked whether the sentence should be increased in light of recent guidance on burglary sentencing. The three‑judge panel, led by Mr Justice John Edwards, upheld the original eight‑and‑a‑half‑year jail term. Edwards noted that O'Donnell's first offences were committed at age 17 and 18, that he had a history of drug problems and four prior convictions, and that the Court of Appeal found no error in principle. The appeal was dismissed, leaving the sentence unchanged. Craig O'Donnell pleaded guilty.
2018-05-11 · Limerick
In Limerick, Melissa Whelan, aged 27, pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm to Wayne Fitzgerald, a recovering road crash victim, on 6 May 2015. She was originally sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended, by Judge Tom O'Donnell. On appeal, the Court of Appeal reduced her jail term by 18 months, citing mitigating factors. The Court held that the mitigating factors warranted a greater reduction than the 25% originally applied. The final sentence was 12 years' imprisonment, with four and a half years suspended, leaving a net jail term of seven and a half years. The case involved a house party where Whelan struck Fitzgerald with a bottle, punched and kicked him, and dragged him outside, where he was found unconscious the next morning. Fitzgerald suffered severe brain injury, required surgery, and was left with significant impairments in speech, swallowing, and memory.
2018-05-10 · Limerick
Rebecca McNamara, aged 22, of Castlerock, Castleconnell, Co Limerick, was convicted of violently robbing a man in his 60s who had recently undergone heart surgery. On 14 May 2016, McNamara and her then boyfriend, who was also charged, robbed the victim of €200 and a Nokia mobile phone on Davis Street. The victim, described by the Circuit Court judge as an "easy target", was walking two miles a day as part of his rehabilitation. McNamara was sentenced by Judge Tom O'Donnell on 30 March 2017 to five years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended. She appealed, but the Court of Appeal, in a three‑judge panel led by Mr Justice John Hedigan, dismissed the appeal, stating that the sentencing judge had acted within the acceptable range of five to seven years. The appeal was therefore rejected. The case highlights the seriousness of the assault on a vulnerable, recovering patient. Rebecca McNamara pleaded guilty.
2017-12-14 · Limerick
Prosecutors seek a review of the sentences imposed on cousins Michael Casey (34) and David Casey (22) for a series of burglaries, including a fatal burglary at John O'Donoghue's home in Doon on 27 August 2015. The men pleaded guilty and were sentenced by Judge Tom O'Donnell at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court to four-and-a-half years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended. The DPP argues the sentence was unduly lenient, citing the death of Mr O'Donoghue, the trauma to his sister, and the aggravated nature of the burglary spree. Counsel for the DPP highlighted the inherent risk of residential burglary and the need for a headline sentence that reflects the harm caused. The Court of Appeal reserved its judgment, while counsel for the defendants argued the suspended year was justified and that the defendants had shown remorse and personal difficulties. The case remains pending.
2017-11-16 · Limerick
Garry Carroll, a former legal executive who had worked for Connolly Sellors and Geraghty Solicitors from 1978 to 2009, was jailed for three years after admitting to theft, larceny and embezzlement over a ten‑year period. He stole about €260,000 from the firm, and the civil case in 2014 awarded the firm €323,000. In November 2017 the High Court approved an order appointing a receiver over Carroll's pension fund held by Irish Life Assurance, which was due to be paid to him on his 60th birthday in June 2019. The receiver will receive the pension proceeds, less tax and a €25,000 retention for Carroll. Carroll, aged 58, said his actions were driven by a gambling addiction. The court noted that the fraud was uncovered when a property developer complained about a missing mortgage payment, leading to Carroll's confession and subsequent counselling.
2017-07-17 · Limerick
The Court of Appeal has fixed December 14 as the date for the hearing of the Director of Public Prosecutions' application to review the sentences of cousins Michael Casey and David Casey. Prosecutors intend to argue that the prison terms imposed for a "fatal burglary" were "unduly lenient." The men, aged 34 and 22 respectively, had previously pleaded guilty to a series of burglaries, including an incident at the home of John O'Donoghue at Toomaline, Doon, on August 27, 2015. In December 2016, Judge Tom O'Donnell at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court sentenced both defendants to four-and-a-half years imprisonment, with the final year suspended. The DPP is seeking a review on the grounds that these sentences are unduly lenient. Prosecuting counsel John G O'Sullivan BL characterized the offense as a fatal burglary. The Caseys were not present in court when the hearing date was fixed. This procedural stage involves the appellate review of the original sentencing decision rather than a new trial on the merits of the charges.
2017-04-06 · Limerick
In 2012, Zachary Coughlan Ryan, aged 38, was convicted of kidnapping Stephen Cusack, 19, and Niall Reddan, 21, at Caisleann na hAbhainn, Castletroy. He was found guilty by a jury after a 14‑day trial and sentenced to eight years and three months imprisonment on 28 January 2014. Ryan appealed on grounds that a prosecution witness had made an inadmissible comment before the jury, stating that Ryan had previously been in jail twice. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice Alan Mahon, agreed that the comment had a prejudicial effect, potentially influencing the jury's view of Ryan's character. The appeal was allowed, the conviction was quashed, and a retrial was ordered. The case remains at the retrial stage, with no further outcome reported in the article. Zachary Coughlan Ryan pleaded not guilty.
2017-03-30 · Limerick
Zachary Coughlan Ryan, aged 38, was convicted in 2014 for the kidnapping of Stephen Cusack, 19, and Niall Reddan, 21, who were held at Caisleann na hAbhainn, Castletroy on 19 August 2012. The men were gagged, had their hands bound with cable ties and were taken in a pick‑up truck to a location. Ryan was sentenced to eight years and three months by Mr Justice Carroll Moran. In 2017, the Court of Appeal quashed the conviction after the Court found that a prosecution witness had made an inadmissible comment before the jury, stating that Ryan had previously been in prison twice. The judge ruled that the comment had a prejudicial effect, likely influencing the jury's view of Ryan's character. The case was remitted to the Court of Appeal to decide whether a retrial is necessary. The conviction was therefore overturned, but no new sentence was imposed. Zachary Coughlan Ryan pleaded not guilty.
2017-03-20 · Limerick
Jonathan Slattery (36) and William Slattery (63), directors of Slattery Ventures Limited, pleaded guilty to multiple VAT offences, including delivering incorrect returns, claiming unentitled repayments, and failing to keep records between 2005 and 2008. Their 2015 suspended three‑year sentences were reviewed by the Director of Public Prosecutions and converted to eight‑month custodial terms by the Court of Appeal. The case centred on the Ballycummin fast‑food outlet, where the company's cash registers were manipulated: the NRGT function was deliberately disabled and every second z‑read was skipped, leading to unrecorded cash receipts and under‑payment of VAT. The estimated loss to Revenue was €223,965, in addition to €70,000 already recovered. The Slatterys provided limited cooperation, made no admissions, and had no prior convictions. The Court of Appeal accepted mitigation but imposed the eight‑month jail term, requiring the Slatterys to surrender to Gardaí on 27 March 2024.
2017-02-27 · Limerick
Zachary Coughlan Ryan, 38, of Brennan's Row, Catherine Place, was convicted in Limerick Circuit Criminal Court for the kidnapping of Stephen Cusack, 19, and Niall Reddan, 21, on 19 August 2012. The pair were held at Caisleann na hAbhainn, Castletroy, gagged, hand‑bound with cable ties and transported in a pick‑up truck to a location. Ryan was found guilty by a jury and sentenced to eight years and three months' imprisonment on 28 January 2014. He has now lodged an appeal, arguing that a comment he made before the jury about having been jailed twice was "unfortunate" and that the trial judge's directions on visual identification were inadequate. Counsel Michael O'Higgins SC highlighted that the kidnapping was intended as a lever for a robbery, citing the victim's mother's post office employment. Judge Alan Mahon, joined by Judges John Edwards and John Hedigan, has reserved judgment on the appeal. Zachary Coughlan Ryan pleaded not guilty.
2017-02-27 · Limerick
Colin Culhane, 35, of Courtbrack Accommodation, Limerick, pleaded guilty to eight burglary counts committed over an eight‑month period in 2014. At the Limerick Circuit Criminal Court on 1 October 2015, Judge Tom O'Donnell imposed concurrent five‑year sentences for counts 1‑6 and wholly suspended consecutive two‑year terms for counts 7‑8. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentence was "unduly lenient". In a fresh hearing, a three‑judge court, led by Mr Justice John Edwards, found that the original judge erred by suspending the entire consecutive two‑year terms. The Court of Appeal re‑sentenced Culhane to three years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, and required him to serve an additional year in custody consecutive to the five‑year sentences for the first six counts. The decision was based on the policy that offences committed while on bail should attract consecutive sentences involving actual custody.
2015-12-15 · Limerick
Patrick Scanlon, a 55-year-old restaurateur with an address on the Channel Island of Jersey, successfully appealed his sentence at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court. He had previously pleaded not guilty to the possession and importation of cannabis worth €79,000 from Spain to a house in Pallaskenry, Co Limerick, on August 8, 2013. Following a three-week trial, a jury found him guilty, and Mr Justice Caroll Moran sentenced him to 15 years imprisonment on May 21, 2014. On appeal, a three-judge panel comprising Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, Mr Justice Alan Mahon, and Mr Justice John Edwards reviewed the case. The court accepted submissions from Mr Michael O'Higgins SC that the original sentence was excessive given mitigating factors, including Scanlon's charitable works, such as running marathons in prison and raising funds for Chernobyl children. The court identified an error in principle regarding the sentencing judge's assessment. Consequently, the panel quashed the original 15-year sentence and imposed a reduced sentence of 11 years imprisonment. This decision reflects a four-year reduction based on the additional material submitted, which highlighted Scanlon's efforts to do good and his lack of status as a hardened criminal.
2015-10-29 · Limerick
The Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeal against conviction by Patrick Scanlon, a 55-year-old restaurateur from West Limerick with an address on the Channel Island of Jersey. Scanlon had pleaded not guilty at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court to the possession and importation of cannabis worth €79,000 from Spain to a house in Pallaskenry, Co Limerick, on August 8, 2013. He was found guilty by a jury following a three-week trial and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment by Mr Justice Caroll Moran on May 21, 2014. The centrepiece of his appeal, submitted by barrister Michael O'Higgins SC, was that his arrest was allegedly tainted by a period of illegal detention immediately before his arrest. O'Higgins argued that Scanlon was searched twice for drugs—once at the roadside and then at a garda station—and that no new reasonable cause had been formed for the second search. However, Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, speaking for the three-judge court which included Mr Justice Alan Mahon and Mr Justice John Edwards, stated that it was not unusual for a person to be detained on the roadside and brought to a station for a further search. The court described the action as a continuous single search, noting that it did not matter that the process was described as a first or second search or carried out by two different gardaí. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed. Scanlon will appeal his sentence at a later date.
2015-06-22 · Limerick
Shane Ferguson, a 47‑year‑old carpenter from Limerick, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment in 2014 for transporting over €1 million worth of cannabis from Northern Ireland to a cottage in rural Limerick. He pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply. The drugs, 52.2 kg with a street value of €1,045,148, were moved by a navy transit van hired by Ferguson, who drove it from Newry to Limerick, paying tolls and being tracked on the motorway. An accomplice swapped vehicles and moved the boxes into the cottage. Gardaí seized the boxes, which bore a UPS sticker, and traced the shipment's route from Eindhoven to Newtownabbey to Poyntzpass. On appeal, the Court of Appeal reduced Ferguson's sentence by one year, from seven to six years, while his co‑accused remained at five years. The new six‑year term takes effect from the original sentencing date.
2015-06-22 · Limerick
Robert Moran, aged 26, pleaded guilty to three aggravated burglaries at the home of a mentally disabled man in Limerick between May and June 2010. He was originally sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, by Mr Justice Carroll Moran on 19 May 2011. The Director of Public Prosecutions sought a review on the grounds that the sentence was unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal, hearing the case in a "less than desirable" manner, imposed a new sentence of seven years' imprisonment, with the final four years suspended. The appeal was heard by a three‑judge panel including Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, Mr Justice John Edwards and Mr Justice Alan Mahon. The final sentence was therefore seven years, four of which are suspended, leaving a three‑year custodial term. The case was heard in the Limerick Circuit Criminal Court.
2015-06-19 · Limerick
A 52‑year‑old Munster man was convicted and sentenced to ten years' imprisonment for sexually abusing his nieces, in‑law, daughter and son over a 24‑year period. He pleaded not guilty to ten counts of indecent assault on his nieces in‑law between 1988 and 1992 and to three counts of sexual assault on his daughter and son in 2001, 2002 and 2011. The jury found him guilty and the judge, Mr Justice Carroll Moran, imposed a ten‑year term with the final two years suspended. The defendant's counsel, Patrick McGrath SC, has now applied to appeal, arguing that the judge erred by not severing the indictment and by failing to summarise the defence's case. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Anne Marie Lawlor BL, countered that the judge acted appropriately given the nature of each complaint. The appeal will be considered by the court as soon as possible.
2015-06-04 · Limerick
Anthony 'Tony' Kelly, aged 24, was found guilty at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court of assault causing serious harm, robbery and theft. He had attacked a 22‑year‑old man, slashing his face without provocation, and robbed two other men. The original sentence was four years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal, hearing the case on the basis that Kelly had "gone on a rampage" and chosen victims at random, imposed a new sentence of six years' imprisonment, again suspending the final two years. Kelly was required to post a €100 bond to keep the peace and maintain good behaviour during custody and the suspended period. The court noted the victim would bear a permanent scar for life. The appeal was upheld, and the sentence increased to six years with two years suspended.
2015-06-04 · Limerick
James Kelly, a 25‑year‑old chronic heroin addict, was convicted at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court for false imprisonment, unlawful vehicle taking and robbery at Colbert Station on 4 May 2011. He pleaded guilty and was originally sentenced to six years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. Prosecutors appealed, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient, and the Court of Appeal increased the term to eight years' imprisonment, again suspending the final two years. The appeal judge, Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, recounted the incident: a woman had disembarked from a train at Colbert Station, entered her car, and was confronted by Kelly. He threatened her with a knife, demanded money, and forced her to drive him to Moyross. After obtaining the money, he left the vehicle and the woman drove to a Garda station.
2015-05-11 · Limerick
Michael Harty, aged 30, was convicted of dangerous driving that caused the deaths of Maurice Hartnett, 61, and his wife Margaret, 59, on 29 July 2009 in Askeaton. The jury found him guilty and he received a five‑year prison sentence and a 30‑year driving ban on 25 January 2013. Harty appealed the conviction and was granted bail five months later. The appeal focused on whether the trial judge correctly admitted biochemistry reports showing Harty's blood‑alcohol level exceeded the legal limit. Harty's counsel argued the evidence breached his constitutional right to privacy, claiming the right had never been formally enumerated. The Court of Criminal Appeal, led by Justice Garrett Sheehan with Justices George Birmingham and John Edwards, upheld the original conviction, stating the judge had acted correctly in admitting the evidence. Harty must now serve the original sentence. The court will publish its full reasoning at a later date. Michael Harty pleaded not guilty.
2015-04-24 · Limerick
Gordon Ryan, 22, of Greenfields, Rosbrien, was convicted twice for possessing an improvised firearm in Limerick. He pleaded guilty to the first offence on 7 November 2012 and to the same offence on 23 June 2013. The first conviction carried a three‑year term with the last 12 months suspended. The second conviction was originally a three‑year term, but the Court of Appeal increased it by two years, citing undue leniency. The judge noted that Ryan was on bail for the first offence when the second offence occurred, involving the discharge of a shotgun that injured a companion. Ryan had 41 prior convictions. The Court of Appeal substituted a five‑year term for the second offence, resulting in an aggregate sentence of eight years with the final 12 months suspended. Ryan was required to bond €100 for the suspended portion.
2015-04-23 · Limerick
Anthony 'Tony' Kelly, aged 24, pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm after a May 2011 unprovoked attack on a 22‑year‑old man in Limerick. The original sentence, imposed by Mr Justice Carroll Moran on 10 February 2012, was four years' imprisonment with the final two years suspended. The Director of Public Prosecutions, represented by John O'Sullivan BL, appealed, arguing that Kelly had "gone on a rampage," robbed a man of money and a mobile phone, and then, 24 hours later, slashed the face of another man, causing permanent facial disfigurement. The Court of Appeal, hearing the case on 23 April 2015, found the sentence "unduly lenient." Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, joined by Mr Justice Alan Mahon and Mr Justice John Edwards, ordered a probation report and postponed the new sentencing to 4 June 2015, where a revised sentence would be imposed.
2015-04-23 · Limerick
James Kelly, 25, a chronic heroin addict, was convicted at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court for false imprisonment, unlawful vehicle taking and robbery at Colbert Station on 4 May 2011. He was sentenced to six years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended for seven years. The Director of Public Prosecution appealed, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal, hearing the appeal on 23 April 2015, found the sentence too lenient and remanded Kelly in custody until 4 June 2015 for a new sentence. Kelly's defence counsel noted he was no longer on heroin and had completed the custodial part of his sentence, having been released for less than a week before being returned to custody. The appeal focused on the seriousness of the offence, the use of a knife, the victim's false imprisonment, forced driving, ATM theft, and the threat of rape and indignities. James Kelly pleaded guilty.
2014-07-17 · Limerick
Kieran Ryan (29), of Craeval Park, Moyross, had his eight-year sentence for the possession of a Browning semi-automatic pistol and 15 rounds of 9mm ammunition reduced to seven years by the Court of Criminal Appeal. The court found an error in principle in the trial judge's assessment of the offence's seriousness and the excessive deduction for his guilty plea. Ryan, who pleaded guilty, was originally sentenced in July 2010 by Judge Carroll Moran at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court for possessing the firearm at Carrigmartin, Ballyneety. The appeal court determined that the maximum starting point should have been nine to ten years, with a justified reduction of two to two-and-a-half years for mitigating factors, resulting in a final sentence of seven years. The court noted that while the offence involved serious criminality, there was no evidence Ryan intended to use the weapon. His brother, Eddie Ryan (31), of College Avenue, Moyross, was sentenced to six years for the same offence. However, Eddie Ryan was subsequently released from the Four Courts after Mr Justice Max Barrett found his continued detention unlawful under Rule 59 of the 2007 Prison Rules. Kieran Ryan is the son of Eddie Ryan Snr, who was shot dead in the Moose Bar in Limerick in November 2000. The appeal court substituted the original sentence, concluding that a reduction of more than two years could not be justified given Ryan's serious previous conviction for violent crime.
2014-03-18 · Limerick
The Court of Criminal Appeal has allowed an appeal by Kieran Ryan against his eight-year sentence for firearms possession, finding an error in principle in the original sentencing. In July 2010, Ryan, then of Craeval Park, Moyross, pleaded guilty at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court to possessing a Browning semi-automatic pistol and 15 rounds of 9mm ammunition at Carrigmartin, Ballyneety. Judge Carroll Moran imposed the eight-year term, while his brother, Eddie Ryan, received six years for the same offence. The appeal court determined that the trial judge's starting point was too high, noting no evidence that Ryan intended to use the weapon. Consequently, the appropriate starting point was nine to ten years. The court also found the four-year reduction for his guilty plea excessive, given he was caught red-handed and had a prior conviction for violent disorder. A justified reduction of two to two-and-a-half years indicated a final range of seven to eight years. Presiding Judge Frank Clarke stated that while the appeal was allowed, a significant reduction would not be justified due to the offence's seriousness. The matter was adjourned to allow both sides to present submissions on the proper sentence, including materials regarding Ryan's conduct in prison.