Courts / Cork / Report

Champagne burglar has sentence reduced

Summary

Jack McCarthy, 24, of Ardbhaile, Mayfield, Co Cork, was sentenced by the Cork Circuit Court to four years in prison, with the final year suspended for two years, for a burglary committed on 11 April at a house near his home. He entered a signed guilty plea at the earliest opportunity in the District Court and maintained it when sent to the Circuit Court. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, reduced the sentence to three years, suspending the final six months. The judge highlighted the value of an early guilty plea and McCarthy's genuine remorse, noting his attempts to enrol in a residential rehabilitation programme before the first public‑health lockdown. Aggravating factors included McCarthy's prior convictions for burglary, assault and knife possession.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Champagne burglar has sentence reduced. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

• April 11 Incident
• 2021-04-30 Publication

Why: He also noted evidence that McCarthy, a drug addict, had shown genuine remorse and before the offence had tried to enlist in a residential rehabilitation programme but was unable to do so because of the first public health lockdown. CNI source report

Places mentioned

Topics

Burglary Stage Appeal Violent Crime

Related court reports

• Mentally ill man who put fellow psychiatric patient in chokehold to be immediately released into care of UK parents
• 'Alternative dispute resolution': man arranged 'straightener' during which dad-of-seven was stabbed to death
• Brothers who sexually assaulted teenage girls in mid-nineties can now be identified for first time
• ESB worker too late to pursue claim seeking €42k in alleged unpaid overtime
• 'No hand, act or part': Osgur Breatnach's wrongful conviction for Sallins train robbery declared a miscarriage of justice
• Migrant engineer who worked 10-hour days for under minimum wage wins €14k

Read the original CNI report