Courts / Galway / Report

Dubliner travelled to Galway for 'orgy' of offending

Summary

Joseph O'Shaughnessy, 32, of Ballyfermot, travelled to Galway and carried out a spree of burglary, criminal damage and theft offences on 6 June 2019. He pleaded guilty to three burglary, three criminal damage and two theft offences in various Galway business premises, causing almost €90,000 of damage and stealing about €5,000 of goods. He was found under a table in a Woodies DIY store. Judge Rory McCabe sentenced him to six years in prison, describing the offences as an "orgy of burglary, theft and criminal damage" and noting that O'Shaughnessy had no legitimate reason to be in the city. O'Shaughnessy appealed, arguing that the judge had failed to impose proportionate sentences for each offence. The Court of Appeal, with Justice George Birmingham, Justice Patrick McCarthy and Justice Aileen Donnelly, quashed the original sentence and replaced it with a five‑year term. The new sentence was deemed proportionate by the DPP's counsel, Elva Duffy BL.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Dubliner travelled to Galway for 'orgy' of offending. Charges or matters: three burglary, three criminal damage and two theft offences in various Galway business premises over a number of hours on the night of 6th June 2019. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

• 6th June 2019 Incident
• 2020-06-22 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Burglary Stage Appeal Theft

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Read the original CNI report