Courts / Mayo / Report

Man has suspended sentence doubled for violent disorder at grandfather's funeral

Date
2019-10-21
Stage
Appeal
Primary locality
Ballyhaunis
County
Mayo

Summary

A 27-year-old man from Letterkenny, County Donegal, has had his suspended sentence for violent disorder doubled by the Court of Appeal. Johnny McDonagh was convicted in Castlebar Circuit Court following a trial relating to an incident at his grandfather's funeral in Ballyhaunis, County Mayo on 16 June 2016. The court heard he had been sentenced to three years suspended in February 2019, but the trial judge had been mistaken about the sentence imposed on a co-accused. The Court of Appeal found this error had resulted in a manifestly inadequate sentence. The court quashed the original three-year suspended sentence and imposed a new six-year sentence, suspended for five years. The president of the Court of Appeal remarked that McDonagh now has a substantial suspended sentence and must avoid further trouble.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man has suspended sentence doubled for violent disorder at grandfather's funeral. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

Case subjects

Johnny McDonagh

Convicted Person

Outcome: Martin McDonagh was subsequently sentenced on 12 October 2018 to six years, suspended for five years. The court quashed the original three year sentenced and imposed a new six year sentence, suspended for five years. "You've a very lengthy suspended sentence hanging over you so if you get in trouble you'll find yourself serving it so stay out of trouble," Judge Birmingham said to McDonagh. "Thank you very much judge," said McDonagh in reply.

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • Court of Appeal
  • Castlebar
  • Castlebar Circuit Court
Incident

Topics

Stage Appeal Violent Crime

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