Courts / Armagh / Report
'Border Fox' O'Hare dispenses with legal team
Summary
Former INLA member Dessie O'Hare, known as "The Border Fox", has dismissed his legal team ahead of his appeal against the severity of his seven-year sentence. O'Hare, of Newtownhamilton, County Armagh, was jailed by the Special Criminal Court last year for falsely imprisoning a family and leading a violent attack. He pleaded guilty to assaulting John Roche and falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne at Rathcoole and Saggart on June 9, 2015. The court also considered counts regarding Byrne's wife and son. O'Hare received three years for the assault and ten years, with three suspended for life, for the false imprisonment, with sentences running concurrently. In a remote hearing before the Court of Appeal, new counsel Patrick Jackson BL and Dominic McGinn SC, representing Ferry Solicitors, stated they could not proceed on the originally scheduled Monday date. The DPP opposed the delay, but President Mr Justice George Birmingham permitted the change of solicitor, noting no prejudice to the prosecution. The appeal, which cites a lack of parity with former paramilitary Declan "Whacker" Duffy—who received six years for similar offences in 2018—was adjourned. The Court of Appeal fixed January 22 as the new hearing date for the appeal against the sentence.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'Border Fox' O'Hare dispenses with legal team. Charges or matters: falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne at Rathcoole and Saggart on the same date. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- January 22 Incident
- June 9, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2020-12-11 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne at Rathcoole and Saggart on the same date (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: O'Hare, of Slate Rock Road, Newtownhamilton, County Armagh was last year jailed by the Special Criminal Court for seven years for falsely imprisoning the family in their home and for leading a "disturbingly violent" attack on another man. O'Hare was jailed for three years for assaulting Mr Roche and ten years with three suspended for the rest of his life for falsely imprisoning Mr Byrne.
Applicant
Background Person
Outcome: Former Republican paramilitary Declan "Whacker" Duffy was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to six years imprisonment in 2018 after pleading guilty to assaulting John Roche, causing him harm, at The Towers, Garter Lane, Saggart, County Dublin on June 9, 2015.
Places mentioned
- Slate Rock Road
- Newtownhamilton
- Armagh
- Special Criminal Court
- Court of Appeal
- Garter Lane
Topics
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