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Killer who left taxi driver to die alone on country road has sentence increased
Summary
Joseph Hillen, aged 25, was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, after the Court of Appeal found his original six‑year term too lenient. Hillen admitted stabbing taxi driver Martin Mulligan, aged 53, in a rural area near Dundalk on 28 September 2015, but denied murder. He was found guilty of manslaughter by a jury and originally sentenced to seven years, with one year suspended. The appeal, brought by the Director of Public Prosecutions, led to a new sentence of nine years, again with the final year suspended. Hillen's case involved two serious stab wounds, a 22.5‑cm abdominal wound and a through‑and‑through thigh wound. He had previously been convicted of dangerous driving while on bail for the killing and had 15 prior convictions, none for violence. The court noted his role as a father of two children and the impact on the Mulligan family.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Killer who left taxi driver to die alone on country road has sentence increased. Charges or matters: manslaughter by a Central Criminal Court jury and was sentenced to seven years imprisonment with the final year suspended by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon on January 28, 2019. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Found guilty
When:
- September 28, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- January 28, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- May 23 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2019-11-26 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: manslaughter by a Central Criminal Court jury and was sentenced to seven years imprisonment with the final year suspended by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon on January 28, 2019 (Proven)
Finding: Found guilty
Outcome: Found guilty; The Court of Appeal found Hillen's sentence to be "unduly lenient" today, on foot of an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions, and he was accordingly re-sentenced to nine years imprisonment with the final year suspended. At the time of the killing, Hillen was carrying out community service, and was on bail for the killing when he committed two dangerous driving offences.
Convicted Person
Charges: manslaughter by a Central Criminal Court jury and was sentenced to seven years imprisonment with the final year suspended by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon on January 28, 2019 (Alleged Or Contested)
Outcome: Mr Treacy said the sentence was unduly lenient due to the particular devastation caused to the Mulligan family, the build-up to the killing, the aftermath, the use of the knife, the "brutality", Hillen's convictions for dangerous driving while on bail for the killing, his previous convictions and his "lack of honesty".
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
- Court of Appeal
- Park Street
Topics
Road Traffic Stage Appeal Violent Crime
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