Courts / Meath / Report
Former Sinn Fein Councillor jailed for 12 years for false imprisonment
Summary
Jonathan Dowdall, a former Sinn Fein councillor, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to 12 years' imprisonment for the false imprisonment and threat to kill of Anthony Hurley. The court found that Dowdall, who claimed to be an IRA member, had tied Hurley to a chair, waterboarded him and threatened to "chop him up" and "feed him to the dogs". Patrick Dowdall, the former councillor's father, received an eight‑year sentence for his role in the offence. Both sentences run concurrently and were back‑dated to 17 May 2016. The court noted the case involved a "Newton hearing" to resolve factual disputes after the defendants pleaded guilty to the charges. The sentencing was based on the evidence of the ordeal, the video footage, and the defendants' admissions. The court emphasised the seriousness of the offences and the impact on the victim.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Former Sinn Fein Councillor jailed for 12 years for false imprisonment. Charges or matters: threatening to kill Mr Hurley at the same place on the same date; false imprisonment and making threats to kill on March 27 this year. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- January 15th, 2015 Other
- March 27 Hearing Or Sentence
- March 9, 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
- May 28, 2016 Other
- January 10, 2015 Other
- January 12, 2015 Other
- January 15 Hearing Or Sentence
- May 17, 2016 Incident
- January 14 Hearing Or Sentence
- January 2015 Incident
- May 19 Adjournment
- March 9 Hearing Or Sentence
- May 28 Incident
- January 1 2015 Incident
- January 12 Incident
- January 12 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- July 2011 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2017-06-01 Publication
Why: The court heard that Jonathan Dowdall believed the victim, Alexander Hurley, was pretending to be a barrister and that he was seeking Dowdall's bank details in order to defraud him. Court evidence reported by CNI
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: threatening to kill Mr Hurley at the same place on the same date; false imprisonment and making threats to kill on March 27 this year (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: former Sinn Fein councillor who physically and mentally tortured a man he believed was trying to defraud him has been jailed for 12 years by the Special Criminal Court. Patrick Dowdall, the father of the former councillor, was sentenced to eight years in prison for his role in the offence.; Earlier this month, the court adjourned the sentencing of Jonathan Dowdall and his father Patrick Dowdall after hearing submissions from Jonathan Dowdall's counsel Mr Michael O'Higgins SC.
Defendant
Charges: threatening to kill Mr Hurley at the same place on the same date; false imprisonment and making threats to kill on March 27 this year (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Having regard to the gravity of the offence, the judge said, the court considered 14 years an appropriate sentence for Jonathan Dowdall. Patrick Dowdall was then handed down an eight-year prison sentence and the court said it had taken into account his health issues and his history of depression.; Earlier this month, the court adjourned the sentencing of Jonathan Dowdall and his father Patrick Dowdall after hearing submissions from Jonathan Dowdall's counsel Mr Michael O'Higgins SC.
Places mentioned
- Special Criminal Court
- The Special Criminal Court
- Jonathan Dowdall's house
- Dowdall's house
- Navan Road
- O'Connell Street
- Navan
- Navan Road
Topics
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