Courts / Louth / Report
Drogheda gang boss claims he was kept in prison 24 hours longer than necessary
Summary
Cornelius Price, a 38‑year‑old former gang boss from Drogheda, has appealed a ruling that upheld the calculation of his release date from Wheatfield Prison. Price was convicted in February 2017 for recklessly endangering life or safety in an incident at Balbriggan Garda station in January 2014, where he drove a van at high speed at Garda Gary Dillane. He served three‑quarters of a three‑year sentence, with a quarter remission, and was released on 18 May 2019. Price argues the Irish Prison Service used days to calculate his release, whereas he believes months should have been used, which would have released him on 17 May 2019, 24 hours earlier. His counsel, Paul Carroll SC, contended the IPS's method was unsatisfactory and not based on statutory provision. The Court of Appeal heard the case on Wednesday, with the High Court having previously dismissed his challenge. The appeal remains pending, with the Court of Appeal reserving judgment.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Drogheda gang boss claims he was kept in prison 24 hours longer than necessary. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted
When:
- February 2017 Incident
- January 22, 2014 Incident
- February 17, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
- May 18, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- May 17, 2019 Other
- 2020-10-07 Publication
Why: The charge related to an incident at Balbriggan garda station on January 22, 2014 during which Price drove a van at high speed at Garda Gary Dillane which forced him to jump out of its path in order to escape serious injury. CNI source report
Case subjects
Applicant
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; Credit: Collins) by Seán McCárthaigh The head of a Drogheda-based criminal gang, Cornelius Price, claims he was kept in prison 24 hours longer than necessary and has launched an appeal against a ruling which upheld how the governor of Wheatfield Prison calculated his release date on a three-year jail sentence. The Court of Appeal heard on Wednesday that Price, whose sentence began on February 17, 2017, was released from custody on May 18, 2019 after being entitled to a quarter remission off his full sentence.
Applicant
Outcome: Wheatfield Prison calculated his release date on a three-year jail sentence. The legal challenge centres on whether the Irish Prison Service should use days or months to determine the exact date for when a prisoner should be released from custody when a sentence involves a fraction of a year.
Places mentioned
- Wheatfield Prison
- Irish Prison
- Rockleigh House
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Court of Appeal
- The High Court
- an incident at Balbriggan garda station
- Balbriggan
Topics
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