Adam Heneghan and Colin O’Sullivan get sexual assault terms cut

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

The Court of Appeal increased the suspended portions of Adam Heneghan and Colin O’Sullivan’s prison sentences on 25 November 2014. Heneghan’s nine-year term had four years suspended, while O’Sullivan’s 10-year term had three-and-a-half years suspended. The proceedings were reported on 26 November 2014.

Adam Heneghan admitted one count of assault causing harm and one count of sexual assault against two women. The offences occurred in Cork City on 3 December 2011.

On 27 February 2013, Judge Patrick Moran sentenced Heneghan at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to nine years’ imprisonment with the final year suspended. He received three years for assault causing harm and six years for sexual assault, running consecutively.

Colin O’Sullivan was found guilty of assault causing harm and eventually pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault. He received 10 years’ imprisonment with the final year suspended, comprising four years for assault causing harm and six years for sexual assault.

Mr Justice George Birmingham described the offences as very grave. However, he said inadequate credit had been given to mitigating factors and the sentencing judge had made an error in principle. Those factors included the men’s youth, their lack of previous convictions, Heneghan’s early plea and O’Sullivan’s developmental issues. The report also noted O’Sullivan’s learning difficulties. Heneghan was 18 and O’Sullivan was 19 at the time of the offences.

The appeal court retained the overall nine- and 10-year terms while increasing the suspended portions. Mr Justice Birmingham said the significant suspended sentences would emphasise the need to resume a law-abiding lifestyle. Both men were returned to jail to serve their remaining custodial terms.