Courts / Tipperary / Report
Rapist who robbed off-licence while on bail has sentence increased
Summary
The Court of Appeal has increased the effective custody period for Roger Ryan, a defendant with over 90 previous convictions, including a prior rape conviction. Ryan was originally sentenced in Clonmel Circuit Criminal Court to seven years' imprisonment for three offences, with the final two years suspended. Additionally, Limerick Circuit Criminal Court imposed a wholly suspended three-year sentence for a robbery at Fine Wines, which was ordered to be consecutive as the crime occurred while he was on bail. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed the Limerick sentence as unduly lenient, while Ryan's legal team challenged the severity of the Clonmel sentence. President Mr Justice Birmingham, sitting with Ms Justice Donnelly and Mr Justice McCarthy, found the Clonmel sentence overly severe given Ryan's history and the reality of the suspended portion. Conversely, the court determined the Limerick judge erred by suspending that sentence entirely. The court re-sentenced Ryan to six years' imprisonment for the Clonmel offences, with the final two years suspended. For the Limerick robbery, he received a consecutive three-year sentence with the final 18 months suspended. This intervention resulted in an additional six months of effective custody. Ryan was required to enter a good behaviour bond for the suspended periods. The court noted his adverse background and institutionalisation but acknowledged his positive conduct in custody.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Rapist who robbed off-licence while on bail has sentence increased. Charges or matters: robbery at Fine Wines, Roches Street, in Limerick on June 26, 2016. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- June 26, 2016 Incident
- 2019-07-26 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: robbery at Fine Wines, Roches Street, in Limerick on June 26, 2016 (Alleged Or Contested)
Outcome: Ryan was sentenced in Clonmel Circuit Criminal Court to seven years imprisonment with the final two years suspended for the three offences. The court re-sentenced Ryan in relation to the Clonmel offences to six years imprisonment with the final two years suspended.
Places mentioned
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