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Dublin man jailed for ten years for killing man with a hurley in road-rage incident must await appeal fate
Summary
Karl Donohoe, 33, of Bealing Village, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of British national Raymond Bates, 49, after a road‑rage incident on 30 September 2010. Donohoe beat Bates with a hurley stick, striking him on the head and repeatedly hitting him while he was on the ground. Bates, a construction worker from Durham, was later pronounced dead after a four‑day hospital stay. In April 2012, Mr Justice Paul Carney sentenced Donohoe to 12 years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, citing the savagery of the assault and Donohoe's self‑appointment as "sheriff and enforcer" in response to Bates' drunken driving. Donohoe appealed the sentence, arguing the judge had erred by referencing a separate case and the hate mail he had received. The Court of Appeal reserved judgment for 19 January, while counsel for the DPP maintained that the sentence was proportionate to the aggravating and mitigating factors presented. The case remains pending appeal.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Dublin man jailed for ten years for killing man with a hurley in road-rage incident must await appeal fate. Charges or matters: the manslaughter of British national Raymond Bates (49) at the junction of Tritonville Road and Sandymount Road on September 30th, 2010. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- September 30th, 2010 Other
- April 2012 Other
- January 19 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2014-12-17 Publication
Why: The sentencing judge had said he knew this from the signed and stamped "hate mail" he had received after the last case which he forwarded to gardaí because of its menacing nature, Mr Grehan said. CNI source report
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: the manslaughter of British national Raymond Bates (49) at the junction of Tritonville Road and Sandymount Road on September 30th, 2010 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Imposing sentence in April 2012, Mr Justice Paul Carney said the "savagery" of the beating administered by Donohoe and the fact that he had appointed himself "sheriff and enforcer" in response to Mr Bates "bad and drunken driving" merited a sentence of 12 years imprisonment with the final two suspended. Counsel for Donohoe, Brendan Grehan SC, submitted that Mr Justice Carney erred in commenting on a separate case when he sentenced Donohoe in April 2012.
Places mentioned
- Tritonville Road
- Sandymount Road
- Court of Appeal
- voluntary statement at Irishtown Garda Station
- Irishtown
- St Vincent's hospital
- Beaumont hospital
Topics
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