Courts / Longford / Report

Former Dublin hurler has conditions of robbery sentence altered

Date
2021-07-19
Stage
Appeal
Primary locality
Longford
County
Longford

Summary

A man convicted of robbing a post office in Co Longford has had the conditions of his sentence varied by the Court of Appeal. Alan Coyne (46) of Ballinaree Cottage, Edgeworthstown, Co Longford, was sentenced to five years imprisonment with the final two years suspended at Longford Circuit Criminal Court in May 2020 after pleading guilty to robbing An Post in Ardagh on October 16, 2019. He took €13,238 after threatening staff and a customer with a knife. The sentencing conditions required Coyne to pay €4,000 compensation to each of two victims within two years of release, with €2,000 due within the first twelve months, while also attending a residential drug treatment programme. The Court of Appeal agreed that these requirements were unrealistic, as the 20-week treatment course would prevent him from working. Mr Justice George Birmingham and his colleagues varied the conditions to allow €2,000 per victim to be paid within the first two years of release, with the balance due within a further twelve months.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Former Dublin hurler has conditions of robbery sentence altered. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

Case subjects

Alan Coyne

Appellant

Outcome: Coyne was sentenced to five years in prison with the final two years suspended at Longford Circuit Criminal Court in May 2020 after pleading guilty to the robbery of the post office in Ardagh, Co Longford on October 16, 2019 and three related charges. The sentencing judge, Judge Keenan Johnson, suspended part of Coyne's sentence on several conditions including that he attend a residential drug treatment course within 18 months of his release from prison and pay €4,000 to each of his two victims within two years of his release, with €2,000 to be paid to each in the first 12 months.

Places mentioned

Secondary Mention
Court Venue
  • Court of Appeal
  • Longford
  • Longford Circuit Criminal Court
Residence

Topics

Drugs Stage Appeal Theft

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