Courts / Cavan / Report
NI man who sexually assaulted unconscious woman is jailed after successful DPP appeal
Summary
A man from County Antrim has been imprisoned following a successful appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions against an unduly lenient sentence. Edmund Stewart, aged 33, of Ardgate Place, Newtownabbey, had pleaded guilty at Cavan Circuit Criminal Court to sexually assaulting a woman at the Farnham Arms Hotel in County Cavan on 24 June 2012. The woman was unconscious at the time of the assault. Stewart was originally given a wholly suspended three-year sentence by Judge John O'Hagan in March 2016. The Court of Appeal found this sentence insufficiently severe, with Mr Justice John Edwards stating that a custodial term should have been imposed. Stewart was re-sentenced to three years imprisonment with all but nine months suspended. He is now serving the nine-month custodial element of that sentence.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: NI man who sexually assaulted unconscious woman is jailed after successful DPP appeal. Charges or matters: sexually assaulting a woman at the Farnham Arms Hotel in Co Cavan on June 24, 2012. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- June 24, 2012 Hearing Or Sentence
- March 2, 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
- June 24 Other
- 2016-11-21 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: sexually assaulting a woman at the Farnham Arms Hotel in Co Cavan on June 24, 2012 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Stewart was given a wholly suspended three-year sentence by Judge John O'Hagan on March 2, 2016. Having regard to the fact that Stewart was of previous good character, Mr Justice Edwards, who sat with Mr Justice George Birmingham and Mr Justice Alan Mahon, re-sentenced him to three years imprisonment with all but nine months of that term suspended.
Places mentioned
- Ardgate Place
- Antrim
- Cavan
- Cavan Circuit Criminal Court
- Court of Appeal
Topics
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