Courts / Dublin / Report

"Border Fox" jailed for seven years by non-jury court

Date
2019-04-11

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Saggart

County
Dublin

Summary

Former INLA member Dessie O'Hare, known as "The Border Fox", was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to seven years' imprisonment. The court accepted his guilty pleas to assaulting John Roche and falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne at Rathcoole and Saggart on June 9, 2015. O'Hare was jailed for three years for the assault and ten years for the false imprisonment, with three years suspended for life. The sentences run concurrently and were backdated to April 3, 2019. Mr Justice Tony Hunt described the assault on Roche as "disturbingly violent" and noted O'Hare's "appalling record" as an aggravating factor. The judge rejected a non-custodial sentence, stating the offending was too serious and premeditated. O'Hare entered a bond to be of good behaviour for life. The court also noted that former Republican paramilitary Declan "Whacker" Duffy was previously sentenced to six years for his role in the same incident. The Byrne family, who were evicted from their home, are now in the Witness Protection Programme.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: "Border Fox" jailed for seven years by non-jury court. Charges or matters: falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne at Rathcoole and Saggart on the same date. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

June 9th, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
April 3, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
June 9 Hearing Or Sentence
January 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
May 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
January 2018 Incident
October 2008 Incident
June 9, 2015 Incident
2019-04-11 Publication

Case subjects

Border Fox

Convicted Person

Charges: falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne at Rathcoole and Saggart on the same date (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Border Fox", has been jailed by the Special Criminal Court for seven years for evicting a family from their home and for leading a "disturbingly violent" attack on another man.

Dessie O'Hare

Convicted Person

Charges: falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne at Rathcoole and Saggart on the same date (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Credit: Collins) Former INLA man Dessie O'Hare, who was known as "The Border Fox", has been jailed by the Special Criminal Court for seven years for evicting a family from their home and for leading a "disturbingly violent" attack on another man. O'Hare was today jailed for three years for assaulting Mr Roche and ten years with three suspended for the rest of his life for falsely imprisoning Mr Byrne.

Former Republican

Convicted Person

Outcome: Former Republican paramilitary Declan "Whacker" Duffy (44) was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to six years imprisonment last year after pleading guilty to assaulting John Roche, causing him harm, at The Towers, Garter Lane, Saggart, County Dublin on June 9, 2015.