Courts / Galway / Report
Armed burglar loses sentence appeal
Summary
Dominic Downes, aged 23, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary of a house in Hazel Park, Newcastle, on 24 September 2016. He was sentenced by Judge Rory McCabe at Galway Circuit Criminal Court to six years imprisonment on 18 July 2017. Downes appealed against the severity of his sentence, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, holding that the six‑year term was within the range available to the Circuit Court judge. The Court of Appeal, presided over by President Mr Justice George Birmingham, noted that Downes entered the house armed with a hunting knife and a hatchet, both of which had been stolen the day before, indicating premeditation. A bag containing €1,760 worth of stolen property was dropped during the escape, and the burglary caused significant injury to the occupants, including PTSD and a move out of the house. Downes had a history of criminal activity and drug problems, and had committed further offences while on bail.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Armed burglar loses sentence appeal. Charges or matters: aggravated burglary of a house in Hazel Park, Newcastle, on September 24, 2016. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- September 24, 2016 Incident
- July 18, 2017 Incident
- 2018-12-03 Publication
Why: When he felt able to live alone again, he moved out of the house where the burglary occurred because he "didn't want to live there" anymore. CNI source report
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: aggravated burglary of a house in Hazel Park, Newcastle, on September 24, 2016 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He was sentenced at Galway Circuit Criminal Court to six years imprisonment by Judge Rory McCabe on July 18, 2017. His co-accused, who was a minor and in the care of the HSE at the time, received a four-year suspended sentence on a different date.
Places mentioned
Topics
Burglary Drugs Stage Appeal Theft
Related court reports
- Appearance of tips machine in cafe that pulled in €5k unexplained, tribunal notes
- Judge speaks out about toxic masculinity while jailing young man for rape
- 'You ruined my life,' rape victim tells older brother
- Retired Franciscan brother jailed for 11 years for raping boy
- Lab had to decontaminate first aid room after technician found to have been napping, wearing lead-exposed work gear, tribunal told
- Lithuanian man admits engaging in terrorist plot to attack mosque
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request