Courts / Louth / Report
Jail sentence more than doubled for post office raider
Summary
Daniel Kavanagh, 26, of Owensilla, Ballymun, pleaded guilty to possession of a double‑barrelled sawn‑off shotgun and robbery of the Mace Store in Clogherhead, Co. Louth, on 20 April 2015. He had originally been sentenced to four years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, on 21 July 2016. Prosecutors appealed, arguing the sentence was "unduly lenient". The Court of Appeal reviewed the case and imposed a five‑year jail term for each of the two counts, to run concurrently. The judge noted Kavanagh's prior 15 convictions, including firearms offences, and the serious nature of the robbery. The new sentence reflects the Court's view that the original penalty was too light given the circumstances and Kavanagh's history. The decision was made by Mr Justice Alan Mahon, sitting with Mr Justice John Edwards and Mr Justice John Hedigan. The revised term is five years for each count, concurrent, with the final two years suspended.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Jail sentence more than doubled for post office raider. Charges or matters: possession of a double barrelled sawn-off shotgun and robbery of the Mace Store at Clogherhead, Co Louth on April 20, 2015. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- April 20, 2015 Incident
- July 21, 2016 Incident
- July 2015 Incident
- 2017-05-02 Publication
Why: Mr Justice Mahon said the Court of Appeal viewed Kavanagh's sentence as unduly lenient, and outside the wide range of discretion enjoyed by a sentencing judge, because of the particularly serious nature of the offences and the circumstances in which it was committed. CNI source report
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: possession of a double barrelled sawn-off shotgun and robbery of the Mace Store at Clogherhead, Co Louth on April 20, 2015 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He was sentenced to four years imprisonment with the final two suspended on July 21, 2016. Kavanagh had been sentenced on the first count – possession of firearms – with the second count taken into account on a full facts basis.
Places mentioned
- Dundalk
- Dundalk Circuit Criminal Court
- Court of Appeal
Topics
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