Courts / Laois / Report

Prisoner claimed ex-garda inmate requested to be assaulted

Summary

In 2014, Gerard Brown, aged 34, assaulted fellow inmate Stephen Cooper in the Midlands Prison. Cooper, an ex‑garda serving a fraud and perverting the course of justice sentence, was being escorted to the gym when Brown struck him on the head with a mug hidden in a sock. Brown admitted the assault but claimed Cooper had asked him to do it to help orchestrate Cooper's early release on safety grounds, and that Cooper had agreed to provide documents, information and €1,000 in return. Cooper denied any consent or agreement. Brown was convicted by a jury at Portlaoise Circuit Criminal Court and sentenced to three years' imprisonment, consecutive to his existing term. He has appealed the sentence, arguing the judge erred in treating the offence as aggravated because it occurred in prison, and that the consecutive sentencing provisions were a "double loading." The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment on the appeal.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Prisoner claimed ex-garda inmate requested to be assaulted. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Found guilty

When:

• May 20, 2014 Incident
• 2017-01-31 Publication

Why: Brown moved to appeal his sentence today on the principle ground that the judge erred in holding that the offence was aggravated because it was committed in the prison environment. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Fraud Stage Appeal Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report