Courts / Mayo / Report
Suspended sentence extended for man over aggravated burglary at former wife's home
Summary
A man has had the suspended portion of his sentence for aggravated burglary increased by the Court of Appeal following an undue leniency review. Andrzej Topolski, aged 50 and formerly of Castlebar, County Mayo, had pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary at his former wife's home in Blackfort Manor, Castlebar on 22 March 2015. The Circuit Court had sentenced him to three years in July 2016, suspending the unserved balance after he had spent eleven months in custody awaiting trial. The Court of Appeal increased the suspended sentence to five years. Mr Justice George Birmingham noted the offence occurred in a domestic context following the breakdown of Topolski's marriage, though the court determined a higher starting point of seven years would have been more appropriate. The judge acknowledged Topolski had secured employment as a stone mason during seventeen months at liberty and found that immediate incarceration would be unduly harsh. Topolski was ordered to undertake good behaviour and maintain no contact with the injured party or his former wife for five years.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Suspended sentence extended for man over aggravated burglary at former wife's home. Charges or matters: aggravated burglary at his former wife's house in Blackfort Manor, Castlebar on March 22 2015. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- March 22 2015 Incident
- July 5, 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2017-07-03 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: aggravated burglary at his former wife's house in Blackfort Manor, Castlebar on March 22 2015 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Topolski had served 11 months in custody awaiting sentence before Judge Rory McCabe at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court suspended the unserved balance of a three-year term on conditions on July 5, 2016. The Court of Appeal increased the length of Topolski's suspended sentence today on foot of an undue leniency review brought by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Places mentioned
- Castlebar
- Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court
- Court of Appeal
Topics
Related court reports
- Defilement conviction quashed as court finds judge 'crossed a line'
- Man admits Mayo claw hammer attack
- West of Ireland couple sentenced after children found living in squalor
- 'I hold no ill will': Daughter of Mayo woman killed by truck addresses driver
- Mayo jury returns insanity verdict in telecoms damage case
- Co Mayo man on trial charged with spate of telecom vandalism offences
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request