Wicklow Circuit Court | localnews.ie

2025-05-02 · Wicklow

'Predatory' pensioner has sentence doubled for abuse of granddaughter

In a Wicklow case, a 77‑year‑old pensioner was sentenced to nine years in prison after the State successfully challenged the original four‑year term for repeated sexual assault of his granddaughter. The judge described the offences as grave and close to attempted rape, noting the victim was aged eight to nine at the time of the most serious incidents. The defendant had pleaded not guilty to five counts of sexual assault between 2007 and 2014, when the girl was six to thirteen. A jury had convicted him and the trial judge had imposed a five‑year sentence with the final year suspended. The Director of Public Prosecution applied for a review, arguing the sentence was too lenient. The appellate judge agreed, citing the severity of the abuse and the lack of remorse, and set a headline sentence of eleven years, reduced by two years for mitigating factors such as the defendant's age and medical issues.

2014-12-04 · Clare

Dublin man sentenced to six years for damaging €10 million Monet painting

Andrew Shannon, 49, of Willians Way, Ongar, was convicted of damaging Claude Monet's 1874 painting "Argenteuil Basin with a Single Sail Boat" at the National Gallery of Ireland. He pleaded not guilty but a jury found him guilty after 1½ hours of deliberation. The jury also found him not guilty of damaging two other paintings at the Shelbourne Hotel. Shannon has 48 prior convictions, including burglary and theft of antiques. He was sentenced to six years' imprisonment, with the final 15 months suspended under strict conditions, including a ban on entering any public gallery or building displaying paintings. The maximum penalty for the offence is ten years. The Monet painting has been restored and returned to display. Shannon's heart condition and prior custody time were considered in sentencing. The case was heard by Judge Martin Nolan.