Roscommon Circuit Criminal Court

2018-07-16 · Roscommon

Thief who told "blatant lies" fails in appeal over bid to change guilty plea

A man from County Kildare has lost an appeal against his refusal to withdraw a guilty plea to theft and criminal damage charges at Roscommon Circuit Criminal Court. Conor Judge, aged 31, was sentenced to three years imprisonment in December 2016 for stealing equipment from a windfarm construction site near Arigna in north Roscommon in October 2010. The Court of Appeal upheld the Circuit Court judge's rejection of Judge's application to change his plea, with Mr Justice John Edwards stating the accused had given "blatant lies" and was an "unreliable witness". The court found Judge had failed to demonstrate good and substantial grounds for setting aside his guilty plea. Judge had also alleged coercion by his former legal representatives, claims which were rejected. A psychiatric assessment confirmed he was fit to plead. The Court of Appeal additionally upheld the three-year sentence as correct and proportionate.

2015-10-13 · Roscommon

Father-of-three jailed for sexual relationship with 14-year-old girl has prison sentence cut on appeal

A 35-year-old man from Roscommon has had his prison sentence reduced on appeal following his conviction for sexual offences against a child. He had pleaded guilty at Roscommon Circuit Criminal Court to six counts of defilement of a child and one count of sexual assault occurring over five months in 2011. The original sentence of nine years, with the final three suspended, was imposed in June 2014. The Court of Appeal found an error in how the sentencing judge had structured the penalty and imposed a new net sentence of five years imprisonment, with the final twelve months suspended. Mr Justice John Edwards, delivering judgment, outlined how the offences began when the man, then in his early thirties, became friendly with the girl through family connections. The abuse escalated over time and only ended when the girl's mother discovered text messages and reported the matter to gardaí. The court accepted evidence of remorse and low reoffending risk.