Court archive
Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court
2023-02-21 · Westmeath
The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal of a 38‑year‑old man who had been sentenced to eight years' imprisonment, with two years suspended, for repeatedly defiling and sexually assaulting a girl who was 13 when the first offence occurred. The man had pleaded guilty to defilement of a child under 15, defilement of a child under 17 and a single count of sexual assault. He claimed he believed the girl was 16 and that he had ceased the relationship when he discovered her true age, but he returned and continued the abuse for over three years, during which the girl gave birth to their daughter at age 15. The appeal argued the sentence was excessive, citing the man's early age and the fact that he had pleaded guilty, but the court upheld the judge's decision, noting the protracted nature of the abuse, the man's violent and manipulative conduct, and the lack of mitigation from the families.
2021-07-16 · Westmeath
In Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court, a 31‑year‑old man was originally sentenced to 12 years in prison, with the last three years suspended, for defiling a 14‑year‑old girl and a 16‑year‑old girl at his apartment between 2017 and 2018. He pleaded guilty to both defilement offences and to two further counts of meeting a child for sexual exploitation. The Court of Appeal found the original 12‑year sentence excessive, reducing the headline sentence to 11 years. After considering mitigating factors, the court imposed a nine‑year prison term, suspending the final two years for ten years. The man remains on the Sex Offenders Register for life. The appeal was based on the judge's assessment of the gravity of the offences and the appellant's conduct, described as "cunning, manipulative and offensive.".
2021-07-12 · Westmeath
In a case heard at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court, a 30‑year‑old man was sentenced to 12 years in prison, with the final three years suspended, for defiling a 14‑year‑old girl and a 16‑year‑old girl at his apartment between 2017 and 2018. He pleaded guilty to the defilements and to two counts of meeting a child for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Evidence showed he used Snapchat and Instagram to lure the girls with offers of free drugs, including cannabis, ecstasy and cocaine, before defiling them. The older victim reportedly consented to sexual activity. The man's counsel argued the 14‑year headline sentence was too high, citing lack of authority and isolation, while the DPP's counsel maintained the sentence was justified by aggravating factors such as drug use, age disparity, and premeditated social‑media contact. The Court of Appeal will rule on the appeal on Friday.
2020-09-25 · Cavan
The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal by a debt collector against an 18-month custodial sentence imposed for intimidation and harassment offences. Kevin Molloy, aged 51, originally from Donegal and currently residing in Cavan, was convicted in May at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court of harassing a man and his daughter between April and August 2015. His offences included threatening to kidnap and harm an individual, and arranging the distribution of defamatory flyers at equestrian events and in Mullingar. Molloy, who operated a debt recovery business based in Kildare, received a headline sentence of four years with 18 months suspended. The three-judge court, presiding over the appeal on Friday, upheld the sentencing judge's assessment that the offences fell within the upper mid-range. The judges described the 18-month actual custodial term as generous and rejected claims the sentence was unduly harsh. The court also upheld a seven-year ban on Molloy operating as a debt collector, deeming it legitimate and proportionate. Molloy was permitted time to arrange his affairs before beginning his sentence on 30 September.