'Sadistic' attacker who forced curtain pole into victim's back passage has jail term increased

Nathan Doherty, aged 24, from Legan in County Longford, has had his prison sentence increased by the Court of Appeal following a conviction for a serious assault. The attack occurred in June 2018 at a property in Colehill, County Longford, when Doherty assaulted Derek Murphy with a broken curtain pole, causing severe internal injuries. Doherty pleaded guilty to intentionally causing serious harm and to producing an article capable of causing serious harm. The trial judge at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court had imposed a six-year sentence with the final three years suspended. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed on grounds of deterrence, and the Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, increased the custodial portion to five years unsuspended, with only the final year suspended. The court also adjusted the compensation order to €25,000, payable in annual instalments following Doherty's release.