Courts / Cork / Report
Dangerous rapist who breached bail conditions released from prison again
Summary
John English, 38, was released from prison after a Court of Appeal decision that the activation of his five‑year suspended sentence for breaching bail conditions was disproportionate. English had been sentenced in 2004 to 18 years for raping an Australian tourist, with five years suspended on the condition he abstain from alcohol. After serving 13 years, he was released in September 2012, but was found drinking and the suspended period was re‑activated by the Central Criminal Court. He appealed, and Judge Michael Peart, joined by Justices Garrett Sheehan and Alan Mahon, set aside the activation order. English was released on a new €100 bond, required to keep the peace, behave well for the remainder of the suspended period, and engage with probation and welfare services. The Court noted his prior convictions for sexual assault, false imprisonment and assault causing harm dating back to 1993.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Dangerous rapist who breached bail conditions released from prison again. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- November 2002 Other
- September 2012 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2014-12-19 Publication
Why: "We accept that that does not appear in the oral bond that English entered into" but there was no reason for English not to believe that it was to last for five years at the time he left court. CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Outcome: In 2004 he was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment with five suspended, after pleading guilty to raping the Australian tourist in November 2002. Judge White suspended five years of the sentence on condition that English comply with all recommendations made by the Probation Services, who directed that he abstain from alcohol.
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