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Court upholds 15-year sentence for violent burglar who "hacked and slashed" 11-year-old
Summary
The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal against the severity of a 15-year prison sentence imposed on Michael Maughan for aggravated burglary. Maughan, aged 24, pleaded guilty to breaking into the caravan of Martin and Winnie McDonagh on Turlough Road, Castlebar, on November 18, 2013. During the attack, Maughan allegedly used a machete to slash the occupants, including an 11-year-old child, causing severe lacerations. The original sentence was handed down by Judge Rory McCabe at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court on February 19, 2016. On appeal, counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions argued the offence was among the most serious possible, while the defence compared it to a less severe Tipperary case. The three-judge panel, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, rejected this comparison, stating both cases represented the highest level of seriousness for aggravated burglary. The court noted that Maughan was also sentenced on four other bills of indictment for violent disorders and robbery committed after the caravan attack. Judge McCabe had imposed concurrent sentences for these additional offences, made consecutive to the aggravated burglary term but suspended in their entirety. The Court of Appeal found that the 15-year sentence for the aggravated burglary fell within the appropriate range and that no error in principle was identified, thereby upholding the original custodial term.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Court upholds 15-year sentence for violent burglar who "hacked and slashed" 11-year-old. Charges or matters: aggravated burglary at the caravan of Martin and Winnie McDonagh on the Turlough Road, Castlebar on November 18, 2013. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- November 18, 2013 Incident
- February 19, 2016 Incident
- December 2013 Incident
- 2017-12-04 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: aggravated burglary at the caravan of Martin and Winnie McDonagh on the Turlough Road, Castlebar on November 18, 2013 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He said it was also to be noted that Maughan was sentenced in respect of four bills of indictment on the same occasion – for two violent disorders and one robbery that were committed subsequent in time to the caravan attack. Judge McCabe imposed concurrent sentences made consecutive to the aggravated burglary sentence but suspended them in their entirety for a number of years.
Places mentioned
- Castlebar
- Appeal's view
- Turlough Road
Topics
Burglary Stage Appeal Theft Violent Crime
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