Courts / Louth / Report

Criminals withdraw appeals after being reminded of court's "full powers"

Date
2018-06-25

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Dundalk

County
Louth

Summary

The Court of Appeal heard several sentencing appeals, with two appellants withdrawing their cases after President Mr Justice George Birmingham reminded counsel of the court's power to increase sentences. Philip McKevitt, 62, of Dundalk, withdrew his appeal against an eight-and-a-half-year sentence imposed in 2017 by the Special Criminal Court. He had been convicted of making a bomb in his shed on May 22, 2010, which detectives alleged would have weighed 500lb fully loaded. His co-accused, Conan Murphy, 32, had previously pleaded guilty to the same incident and received a six-year sentence. In a separate matter, Charles McDonagh, 27, of Co Cavan, withdrew his appeal against a nine-year sentence for dangerous driving causing serious harm, a decision Mr Justice Birmingham described as sensible. Conversely, the court upheld the sentences of two other appellants. Keith Hughes, 27, of Dundalk, had his appeal dismissed regarding a six-year sentence (with the final year suspended) for robbing €235 and possessing a knife at a bookmaker in 2015. The court noted his 59 previous convictions and found no error in principle. Additionally, the appeal of a 28-year-old South African national against a 10-year sentence for raping his former partner was dismissed, with the court holding the sentence was within the available range.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Criminals withdraw appeals after being reminded of court's "full powers". Charges or matters: making a bomb in his shed on May 22, 2010 which, detectives said, would have weighed 500lb fully loaded; robbing €235 and possession of a knife at Bar One Racing bookmakers, Bridge Street, Dundalk on May 22, 2015. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted; Found guilty

When:

May 22, 2010 Hearing Or Sentence
May 25, 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
May 22, 2015 Incident
June 16, 2016 Incident
2018-06-25 Publication

Case subjects

Conan Murphy

Appellant

Charges: robbing €235 and possession of a knife at Bar One Racing bookmakers, Bridge Street, Dundalk on May 22, 2015 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: McKevitt was due to appeal against the severity of his prison sentence today.

Keith Hughes

Appellant

Charges: robbing €235 and possession of a knife at Bar One Racing bookmakers, Bridge Street, Dundalk on May 22, 2015 (Proven)

Finding: Found guilty

Outcome: Found guilty; Hughes was sentenced to six years imprisonment with the final year suspended at Dundalk Circuit Criminal Court on June 16, 2016.

Philip McKevitt

Appellant

Charges: making a bomb in his shed on May 22, 2010 which, detectives said, would have weighed 500lb fully loaded; robbing €235 and possession of a knife at Bar One Racing bookmakers, Bridge Street, Dundalk on May 22, 2015 (Proven)

Plea: Guilty

Finding: Convicted

Outcome: Convicted; McKevitt was found guilty at the non-jury Special Criminal Court, having denied the charge, and was jailed for eight-and-a-half years in 2017. McKevitt was due to appeal against the severity of his prison sentence today.