Courts / Dublin / Report
Violent criminal has sentence increased for attacking and threatening to kill witness
Summary
Derek Lennon, aged 34, of Neagh Road, Terenure, Dublin 6, had his prison sentence increased by 18 months by the Court of Appeal after a violent assault on State witness Niall Fitzgerald. Lennon had 72 prior convictions, including robbery, arson, assault and assault causing harm. In March 2016 he was convicted of dangerous driving for a motorbike crash, banned from driving for six years and sentenced to 90 hours community service. In 2018, after Fitzgerald was called to testify again, Lennon intimidated him, threatened to kill him, and attacked him with a plank of wood, leaving a permanent scar and dental damage. Lennon pleaded guilty to two counts of intimidation, criminal damage to CCTV cameras, assault causing harm, production of a length of wood and threatening to kill. Judge Martin Nolan originally sentenced him to four and a half years.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Violent criminal has sentence increased for attacking and threatening to kill witness. Charges or matters: dangerous driving following a District Court trial; two counts of intimidation, criminal damage to two CCTV cameras at Mr Fitzgerald's home, assault causing harm, production of a length of wood and threatening to kill or cause serious harm. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Found guilty
When:
- March 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
- November 13, 2018 Incident
- October 2, 2018 Incident
- 2021-02-08 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: dangerous driving following a District Court trial; two counts of intimidation, criminal damage to two CCTV cameras at Mr Fitzgerald's home, assault causing harm, production of a length of wood and threatening to kill or cause serious harm (Proven)
Plea: Guilty
Finding: Found guilty
Outcome: Found guilty; Niall Fitzgerald acted as a State witness in the road traffic case and Lennon was banned from driving for six years and sentenced to 90 hours community service. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Lennon to four and a half years in prison, noting that the victim had done "what every good citizen should do" by giving evidence in court.
Places mentioned
Topics
Road Traffic Stage Appeal Theft Violent Crime
Related court reports
- Man charged with having 56k child abuse images and videos remanded on bail
- Ex-Dáil hopeful's allegations against former employer 'complete fantasy', WRC told
- Mater must pay €10k to worker who said he was wrongly accused of abusing patient
- 'I think we know I won't be getting bail' - Daniel Kinahan charged with directing criminal organisation
- Letting agent who claimed alleged domestic violence victim abandoned tenancy by fleeing to refuge must pay €14.7k
- 77-year-old with 470 convictions told Luas staff to 'f**k off'
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request