Courts / Dublin / Report

'Border Fox' to appeal false imprisonment sentence

Date
2020-07-13
Stage
Appeal
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

Former INLA member Dessie O'Hare, known as 'The Border Fox', is appealing a seven‑year sentence imposed by the Special Criminal Court for falsely imprisoning a family in South Dublin. O'Hare, 63, was convicted of assaulting John Roche on 9 June 2015 and of falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne, his wife and son, on the same date. He received a three‑year term for the assault and a ten‑year term with three years suspended for the false imprisonment, the sentences running concurrently. The Court of Appeal has scheduled his hearing for 14 December. O'Hare's barrister, Mark Lynam BL, confirmed the client's intention to attend. He has prior convictions, including a 40‑year sentence in 1988 for false imprisonment and assault of a dentist, and firearm offences. The appeal concerns the length of the sentence, not the conviction itself. The case remains at the appeal stage. Dessie O'Hare pleaded guilty. Border Fox pleaded guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'Border Fox' to appeal false imprisonment sentence. Charges or matters: falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne at Rathcoole and Saggart on the same date. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

Case subjects

Border Fox

Convicted Person

Charges: falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne at Rathcoole and Saggart on the same date (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Border Fox', was jailed by the Special Criminal Court for seven years last year for the crime he committed while evicting the family from their home.

Dessie O'Hare

Appellant

Charges: falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne at Rathcoole and Saggart on the same date (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: O'Hare, who was known as 'The Border Fox', was jailed by the Special Criminal Court for seven years last year for the crime he committed while evicting the family from their home. In 1988, O'Hare was sentenced to 40 years imprisonment for falsely imprisoning and assaulting Dublin dentist Dr John O'Grady, causing him grievous bodily harm, but was released under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement in 2006.

Places mentioned

Secondary Mention
Court Venue
  • Special Criminal Court
  • Court of Appeal
Residence
Address Area
  • Garter Lane

Topics

Stage Appeal Violent Crime

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