Courts / Dublin / Report
Four sentenced to total of 53 years over "inhumane" €2m tiger kidnapping
Summary
Judge Melanie Greally sentenced four men to a total of 53 years for their roles in the 2005 €2.08 million robbery of Paul Richardson and Securicor, along with the false imprisonment of the Richardson family. Mark Farrelly, Christopher Corcoran, David Byrne, and Niall Byrne, all of whom pleaded not guilty, were convicted by a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury. Farrelly, identified as the mastermind, received 17.5 years. David Byrne was sentenced to 13.5 years. Corcoran was sentenced to 12 years, with the final five years suspended due to his age and health. Niall Byrne, the former Securicor worker convicted of conspiracy to rob, received 10 years. The jury failed to reach a majority verdict on a kidnapping charge against Niall Byrne. The judge noted the victims' "uncommon and unbending faith" in the justice system after five trials. She ordered the forfeiture of €19,220 in cash and a BMW belonging to Niall Byrne. This sentencing follows previous legal history where convictions for Farrelly and Corcoran were overturned in 2012 and later acquitted in 2015 before those acquittals were overturned by the Court of Appeal.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Four sentenced to total of 53 years over "inhumane" €2m tiger kidnapping. Charges or matters: robbing Mr Richardson and Securicor of €2.08 million on March 14, 2005 and to the false imprisonment of the Richardson family at their home at Ashcroft, Raheny on March 13 and 14, 2005. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- January 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
- March 14, 2005 Hearing Or Sentence
- March 13 Other
- Sunday March 13, 2005 Other
- 2018-07-16 Publication
Why: He said he could not leave the court after giving his evidence because he promised his family "I would keep going until justice prevailed". CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: robbing Mr Richardson and Securicor of €2.08 million on March 14, 2005 and to the false imprisonment of the Richardson family at their home at Ashcroft, Raheny on March 13 and 14, 2005 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: Farrelly and Corcoran and Jason Kavanagh, of Corduff Avenue, Blanchardstow,n were convicted and jailed in 2009 but were released in 2012 after the convictions were overturned by the Court of Criminal Appeal on the back of a Supreme Court ruling that search warrants used in this and other investigations were unconstitutional.
Convicted Person
Charges: robbing Mr Richardson and Securicor of €2.08 million on March 14, 2005 and to the false imprisonment of the Richardson family at their home at Ashcroft, Raheny on March 13 and 14, 2005 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: Farrelly, who was considered the mastermind of the gang, was sentenced to 17 and a half years. David Byrne, who was one of the two men who was in the jeep that brought the Richardsons to the mountains, was sentenced to 13.5 years.
Defendant
Charges: robbing Mr Richardson and Securicor of €2.08 million on March 14, 2005 and to the false imprisonment of the Richardson family at their home at Ashcroft, Raheny on March 13 and 14, 2005 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: Farrelly and Corcoran and Jason Kavanagh, of Corduff Avenue, Blanchardstow,n were convicted and jailed in 2009 but were released in 2012 after the convictions were overturned by the Court of Criminal Appeal on the back of a Supreme Court ruling that search warrants used in this and other investigations were unconstitutional.
Applicant
Charges: robbing Mr Richardson and Securicor of €2.08 million on March 14, 2005 and to the false imprisonment of the Richardson family at their home at Ashcroft, Raheny on March 13 and 14, 2005 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Supreme Court
- Court of Appeal
- High Court
- Mullingar
- Mullingar hospital
Topics
Related court reports
- Man charged with having 56k child abuse images and videos remanded on bail
- Ex-Dáil hopeful's allegations against former employer 'complete fantasy', WRC told
- Mater must pay €10k to worker who said he was wrongly accused of abusing patient
- 'I think we know I won't be getting bail' - Daniel Kinahan charged with directing criminal organisation
- Letting agent who claimed alleged domestic violence victim abandoned tenancy by fleeing to refuge must pay €14.7k
- 77-year-old with 470 convictions told Luas staff to 'f**k off'
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request