2020-09-18
Suspended sentence for 'life-changing' one-punch attack too lenient
Stage: Appeal
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He claimed the circumstances of the case contained no special reasons of a substantial nature with exceptional circumstances for the sentencing judge to depart from the appropriate practice of imposing some element of a custodial sentence for such an offence to reflect its gravity. "The sentence should not have been fully suspended," Mr Reynolds said. Outlining the Court of Appeal's decision, the President, Mr Justice George Birmingham, presiding, with Ms Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh and Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, said it was a case of "great seriousness" and a fully suspended sentence was inappropriate.