Appeal over Joseph Lernihan’s robbery sentence put back one week

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

An appeal against Joseph Lernihan’s suspended sentence for two robberies was put back for one week to assess his suitability for community service. The proceedings were reported on 21 March 2015.

Joseph Lernihan, 22, of Finnuremore Park, Mullagh, had pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery. The offences took place at the home of Michael McMahon, then 68, in February 2012.

Following the incidents, the pensioner cycled 30 miles through the night and checked himself into a nursing home.

The report said Lernihan had received a suspended three-year sentence the previous March. He was also ordered to pay €3,780 compensation and hand over a Volkswagen Passat he had purchased with the proceeds of his crime.

The sentence was appealed on the grounds that it was too lenient. Clare FM reported that Lernihan would escape jail, while describing the matter as adjourned for a community-service suitability assessment.