Courts / Dublin / Report

Teen burglar has sentence increased

Date
2021-03-19
Stage
Appeal
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

Michael Cawley, 16 at the time of the offence, was sentenced to three‑and‑a‑half years for an attempted burglary on Brewery Road, Stillorgan, in February 2014. The Court of Appeal, after the Director of Public Prosecutions argued that the sentence was too lenient, increased it to four‑and‑a‑half years. Cawley had tried to jimmy the door with a screwdriver while the homeowner held it shut, and after failing to enter the house he later broke into a home on Wilson Road, Mount Merrion, stealing €5,000 worth of property and a BMW. He had previously fled to the UK, where he committed another burglary in 2016, and had 29 prior convictions. The Court of Appeal noted the aggravating factors, including the planning, the late‑night timing and the confrontation with a homeowner, and imposed the increased sentence with no portion suspended.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Teen burglar has sentence increased. Charges or matters: attempted burglary; burglary. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

Case subjects

Michael Cawley

Appellant

Charges: attempted burglary; burglary (Alleged Or Contested)

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • Court of Appeal
  • Dublin
  • Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Address Area
  • Brewery Road
  • Wilson Road
  • Daltree Place
Secondary Mention
Incident

Topics

Burglary Stage Appeal Theft

Related court reports

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