Courts / Roscommon / Report
Thief who told "blatant lies" fails in appeal over bid to change guilty plea
Summary
A man from County Kildare has lost an appeal against his refusal to withdraw a guilty plea to theft and criminal damage charges at Roscommon Circuit Criminal Court. Conor Judge, aged 31, was sentenced to three years imprisonment in December 2016 for stealing equipment from a windfarm construction site near Arigna in north Roscommon in October 2010. The Court of Appeal upheld the Circuit Court judge's rejection of Judge's application to change his plea, with Mr Justice John Edwards stating the accused had given "blatant lies" and was an "unreliable witness". The court found Judge had failed to demonstrate good and substantial grounds for setting aside his guilty plea. Judge had also alleged coercion by his former legal representatives, claims which were rejected. A psychiatric assessment confirmed he was fit to plead. The Court of Appeal additionally upheld the three-year sentence as correct and proportionate.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Thief who told "blatant lies" fails in appeal over bid to change guilty plea. Charges or matters: something that I did not do that I would get away with a fine". Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- October 3, 2010 Hearing Or Sentence
- December 16, 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2018-07-16 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: something that I did not do that I would get away with a fine" (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: A man jailed for damaging equipment used to build a wind farm in rural Roscommon has lost an appeal over attempts to change his plea from 'guilty' to 'not guilty'. Judge unsuccessfully sought to change his plea from 'guilty' to 'not guilty' before he was sentenced to three years imprisonment by Judge Keenan Johnson on December 16, 2016.; In what is known as a 'Newton hearing', The Circuit Court judge indicated he was satisfied that the damage was in the five figure range i.e in excess of €10,000 but adjourned sentencing to a later date.
Places mentioned
- Roscommon
- Roscommon Circuit Criminal Court
- Court of Appeal
- The Circuit Court
Topics
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