Courts / Cork / Report
Criminal who "deliberately" hit garda motorcyclist during chase appeals 12-year sentence
Summary
John Paul O'Driscoll, 29, from Fairhill, appealed a 12‑year sentence imposed by Cork Circuit Criminal Court for 17 offences including burglary, unlawful van taking, reckless endangerment and criminal damage. He was driving a stolen van drunk, pursued from one end of Cork to another, and deliberately struck Garda Michael Twomey on a motorbike, throwing him a considerable distance. O'Driscoll had 168 prior convictions, was disqualified from driving, and had been on two sets of bail. Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin gave consecutive sentences totalling 12 years, suspending the final two years. O'Driscoll's counsel, Elizabeth O'Connell SC, argued the judge erred in imposing consecutive sentences and that the guilty plea should have earned more credit. The appeal was filed on 15 November 2016. The court expected a decision within a month.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Criminal who "deliberately" hit garda motorcyclist during chase appeals 12-year sentence. Charges or matters: 17 charges including burglary, unlawful taking of a van, reckless endangerment and criminal damage at various locations around Cork in April 2013. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- April 2013 Incident
- 2016-11-15 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: 17 charges including burglary, unlawful taking of a van, reckless endangerment and criminal damage at various locations around Cork in April 2013 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He was given consecutive sentences totalling 12 years imprisonment but when Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin indicated that he would suspend the final two years, O'Driscoll shouted from the dock that he could "f*** off". Opening an appeal against sentence today, O'Driscoll's barrister, Elizabeth O'Connell SC, submitted that the Circuit Court judge erred in imposing consecutive sentences and that not enough credit was given for the guilty plea.
Places mentioned
Topics
Burglary Road Traffic Stage Sentence Theft
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