Courts / Cork / Report

Parking space row led man to attack other while claiming to be in IRA

Date
2021-12-07
Stage
Appeal
Primary locality
Cork City
County
Cork

Summary

A man named Gavin Craven, aged 47, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment with the final year suspended after attacking Fergal Quinn with a poker while claiming to be in the IRA. The assault took place at Quinn's home in Liffey Place, Cork City, on 1 August 2020, following a dispute over a parking space. Craven pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. The Court of Appeal found that the trial judge had erred in setting a five‑year headline sentence and had applied an inappropriate 20% discount. The appeal court reduced the headline to five years, then applied a 25% discount for the guilty plea, suspended 21 months, and left a custodial term of two years and three months to be served. The case was heard at Cork Circuit Criminal Court and the appeal was heard by Mr Justice Birmingham.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Parking space row led man to attack other while claiming to be in IRA. Charges or matters: assaulting Fergal Quinn at Mr Quinn's home at Liffey Place, Cork City, on August 1, 2020. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

Why: Today, outlining the background to the case, Mr Justice Birmingham said that Craven's brother called over to Mr Quinn's house asking for Mr Quinn to move his car because Craven's brother wanted to park his car in a spot covered by CCTV in the common area. CNI source report

Case subjects

Gavin Craven

Appellant

Charges: assaulting Fergal Quinn at Mr Quinn's home at Liffey Place, Cork City, on August 1, 2020 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Gavin Craven (47) of Glenfield Avenue, Ballyvolane, Co Cork, was sentenced to four years imprisonment with the final year suspended at Cork Circuit Criminal Court on February 15, 2021, for what the trial judge described as "the highest level" of assault causing harm. Mr Justice Birmingham then quashed the previous sentence and re-sentenced Craven to four years' imprisonment but suspended 21 months, leaving a term of two years and three months to be served.

Places mentioned

Residence
  • Glenfield Avenue
  • Cork
Court Venue
  • Cork
  • Cork Circuit Criminal Court
  • Court of Appeal
Incident
Facility
  • Mr Quinn's house

Topics

Stage Appeal Violent Crime

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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