Courts / Dublin / Report

Three-month sentence for burglar with 127 previous convictions "too lenient", DPP says

Date
2018-04-10

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Mountjoy

County
Dublin

Summary

Richard Evans, aged 34, was sentenced to three months' imprisonment for burglary of a Dublin house at Coke Lane. He pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 6 February 2017, and Judge Petria McDonnell also imposed a separate sentence for criminal damage. Evans had 127 prior convictions, including 17 for burglary, at the time of sentencing. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has requested a review of the sentence, arguing it was "unduly lenient." DPP counsel Garrett McCormack highlighted that Evans was caught in possession of the victim's property, that the victim had identified him in an identification parade, and that CCTV footage showed his movements from the Criminal Courts of Justice to Coke Lane. The Court of Appeal has reserved its judgment, with Judges Alan Mahon, John Edwards and John Hedigan to deliver it soon. Evans is currently in Mountjoy Prison, not for this appeal. The DPP described Evans as a "chronic recidivist.".

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Three-month sentence for burglar with 127 previous convictions "too lenient", DPP says. Charges or matters: the offence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and was sentenced to three months imprisonment by Judge Petria McDonnell on February 6, 2017; the present offence. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

February 6, 2017 Incident
2018-04-10 Publication

Case subjects

Richard Evans

Convicted Person

Charges: the offence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and was sentenced to three months imprisonment by Judge Petria McDonnell on February 6, 2017; the present offence (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: The Director of Public Prosecutions are seeking a review of Evans' three-month sentence on grounds that it was "unduly lenient".