Courts / Ireland / Report
Former jockey who received wholly suspended sentence for sexual assault must wait to hear if sentence will be increased
Summary
A 38‑year‑old former jockey received a wholly suspended five‑year prison sentence for sexually assaulting his female housemate in October 2005. He pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court. The Court of Appeal reserved judgment on an application by the Director of Public Prosecutions, who argued the sentence was unduly lenient. The appeal hearing included the President, Mr Justice Seán Ryan, and Justices George Birmingham and Garrett Sheehan, who questioned the trial judge's remarks that the victim might have been "extremely naïve." Paul Greene SC for the DPP highlighted conflicting accounts, noting both parties were intoxicated, which could aggravate the offence. Isobel Kennedy SC for the accused argued the trial judge had carefully considered the case, including the accused's prior record and the seven‑year delay between the offence and trial. The Court of Appeal will decide on the sentence's severity no earlier than 22 November 2014.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Former jockey who received wholly suspended sentence for sexual assault must wait to hear if sentence will be increased. Charges or matters: sexually assaulting the woman at a house in the South-East of the country on October 27, 2005. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- October 27, 2005 Hearing Or Sentence
- November 22 2014 Incident
- 2014-11-13 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: sexually assaulting the woman at a house in the South-East of the country on October 27, 2005 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: A former jockey who received a wholly suspended five year prison sentence for sexually assaulting his then female housemate following a night out must wait to hear whether the severity of his sentence will be increased. The Court of Appeal reserved judgment today on an application brought by the Director of Public Prosecutions on grounds that the sentence imposed on the man was unduly lenient.; The Court of Appeal reserved judgment today on an application brought by the Director of Public Prosecutions on grounds that the sentence imposed on the man was unduly lenient.
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
- Central Criminal Court
Topics
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