Courts / Dublin / Report

Declan Duffy jailed for role in "mob" attack and imprisonment

Summary

Two men were sentenced at the Special Criminal Court for their roles in a mob that intimidated a man and forced his family to leave their home. Declan Duffy, aged 44, was jailed for six years for false imprisonment of Martin Byrne in Rathcoole/Saggart on 9 June 2015, and for assaulting John Roche at the Towers, Garters Lane, Saggart, on the same date. Christopher Maguire, aged 39, received a three‑year suspended sentence for falsely imprisoning Lisa Byrne in the same incident. Both men pleaded guilty. The mob, recruited to intimidate Byrne, forced him to leave his apartment in the Towers complex, assaulted him, and threatened his life. Duffy had prior convictions for false imprisonment and IRA membership, while Maguire had no prior convictions. The judge noted Duffy did not lead the mob and was not armed, and that the mob's violence was intended to supplant the legal process. The sentencing was carried out by Mr Justice Tony Hunt.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Declan Duffy jailed for role in "mob" attack and imprisonment. Charges or matters: the offence; falsely imprisoning Lisa Byrne in same place on the same date. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• June 9th, 2015 Incident
• May 2015 Other
• June 9th Other
• 2018-01-29 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

Related court reports

• Jail sentence for smashing window is overturned
• Parcel from South Africa contained €210k worth of cannabis
• CAB to sell high-end cars seized from former Real IRA member Nathan Kinsella
• Uninsured driver who believed he was covered escapes ban
• Doctor of social studies jailed for possessing €285k of heroin
• Restorative justice after 'opportunistic' scratch cards swipe

Read the original CNI report