Courts / Dublin / Report
21-year-old with "deplorable" record loses appeal over driving at garda
Summary
A 21‑year‑old man, Eric Harcourt, was found guilty of endangerment and unlawful use of a vehicle after accelerating a car at a Garda in Darndale on 23 September 2014. He pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, on 5 February 2016. Harcourt had been on bail when the offence occurred and the sentence was consecutive to a term already being served. He appealed the severity of the sentence, but the Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice Alan Mahon, found no error in principle. The judge noted Harcourt's "deplorable" record of 67 previous driving convictions, the earliest at age 13, and stated that a four‑year term was not unreasonable given the seriousness of the offence and his record. The appeal was dismissed.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 21-year-old with "deplorable" record loses appeal over driving at garda. Charges or matters: endangerment and the unlawful use of a vehicle in Darndale, in the capital on September 23, 2014. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Found guilty
When:
- September 23, 2014 Incident
- February 5, 2016 Incident
- 2017-12-01 Publication
Why: Mr Justice Mahon said the suggestion by Mr Kelly that credit should be given to Harcourt because no injuries were caused to the garda was "stretching things to their limit". CNI source report
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: endangerment and the unlawful use of a vehicle in Darndale, in the capital on September 23, 2014 (Proven)
Plea: Not guilty
Finding: Found guilty
Outcome: Found guilty; He was found guilty by a jury and sentenced to four years imprisonment with the final 18 months suspended by Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds on February 5, 2016. Harcourt lost an appeal against the severity of his sentence today, with the Court of Appeal unable to identify an error in principle.
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