Courts / Donegal / Report
Sentence imposed on man who stabbed friend 17 times 'too severe', court hears
Summary
A man has brought an appeal against his eight-and-a-half year sentence for stabbing his friend seventeen times with scissors in Letterkenny, County Donegal, in October 2008. Kenneth Broe was convicted by jury of assault causing serious harm following an incident in the early hours of the morning on Main Street. The victim sustained multiple wounds to the neck, head and chest, requiring two life-saving operations and two weeks in intensive care. At the Court of Appeal hearing on 8 May 2020, Broe's counsel argued that the sentencing judge had erred by suspending eighteen months of the sentence rather than reducing the overall term, given mitigating factors and rehabilitation efforts made during the significant delay between offence and trial. The Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel contended that mitigating circumstances and rehabilitation were appropriately addressed through the suspended portion, whilst maintaining public protection. The Court of Appeal reserved judgment.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Sentence imposed on man who stabbed friend 17 times 'too severe', court hears. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted
When:
- October 9, 2008 Incident
- May 2018 Incident
- December 19, 2018 Incident
- 2020-05-08 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; Broe moved to appeal the severity of his sentence today in the Court of Appeal on grounds that the sentencing judge had erred in law by suspending a portion of the sentence rather than imposing a reduced sentence, when he found that mitigating factors existed. She said "it was most appropriate to give him credit for mitigating circumstances" but a sentence should be imposed "that would also protect society".
Places mentioned
- Letterkenny
- Letterkenny Circuit Court
- Court of Appeal
- Letterkenny's Main Street
Topics
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