Courts / Dublin / Report
No extra jail time for serial burglar who broke in to home of judge's widow
Summary
Martin O'Brien, 31, from Coolevin, Balybrack, was convicted of burglary at the home of Mrs Marian Shanley, widow of the late High Court judge Peter Shanley, on 31 August 2016. He had been serving a four‑year suspended sentence for a 2013 burglary of an 85‑year‑old man's home. On 20 February 2017, Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, for the Shanley burglary. The Court of Appeal dismissed the Director of Public Prosecutions' appeal that the sentence was "unduly lenient", holding that it was not so far outside the norm. O'Brien had 103 prior convictions, including six for burglary, and had previously been employed as a groundsperson at Leopardstown Racecourse. He had struggled with heroin addiction and mental health issues, but had detoxified and entered a residential drug treatment programme before the trial. Martin O'Brien pleaded guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: No extra jail time for serial burglar who broke in to home of judge's widow. Charges or matters: burglary at the home of Mrs Marian Shanley, widow of the late High Court judge Mr Justice Peter Shanley, at Marlborugh Road, Glenageary on August 31, 2016. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- August 31, 2016 Incident
- February 20, 2017 Incident
- 2018-01-16 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: burglary at the home of Mrs Marian Shanley, widow of the late High Court judge Mr Justice Peter Shanley, at Marlborugh Road, Glenageary on August 31, 2016 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: O'Brien had been given a four year suspended sentence by Judge Mary Ellen Ring for the burglary of an 85-year-old-man's home at Glenageary Woods in August, 2013. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced O'Brien to three years imprisonment with the final two suspended for the burglary of Ms Shanley's home on February 20, 2017.
Places mentioned
- High Court
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Court of Appeal
- Marlborugh Road
Topics
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