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On-bail syringe robber has suspended sentence quashed by appeal court

Date
2022-07-12
Stage
Appeal
Court
Court of Appeal
Primary locality
Cork City
County
Cork

Summary

The Court of Appeal has quashed the fully suspended sentence of Darren Rice, a convicted person, following an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions on grounds of undue leniency. Rice, aged 32, was originally convicted in September 2021 at Cork Circuit Criminal Court of robbery and three attempted robberies committed in March 2021 while on bail. The trial judge, Judge Helen Boyle, had imposed a three-year suspended sentence to run consecutively to a separate three-year term he was already serving. The DPP argued that this resulted in effectively no additional punishment for the new offences. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, presiding, agreed the original sentence was unduly lenient. He quashed the suspended sentence and imposed a new sentence of four years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended for two years. This new term is to run consecutively to the three-year sentence Rice is currently serving. The court noted Rice's responsible approach in not contesting the application and his positive conduct in prison. His brother, Eugene Rice, who was also convicted of the same offences, received a two-year sentence with the second year suspended, running consecutively to a one-year term he was already serving. The appeal focused solely on Darren Rice's disposal.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: On-bail syringe robber has suspended sentence quashed by appeal court. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted

When:

Case subjects

Darren Rice

Convicted Person

Finding: Convicted

Outcome: Convicted; Darren Rice was sentenced by Judge Helen Boyle to a fully suspended three-year sentence for the crimes at Cork Circuit Criminal Court on September 29, 2021. Mr Justice McCarthy quashed the three-year suspended sentence and imposed a sentence of four years' imprisonment with the final year suspended for two years, which is to run consecutively to the three-year sentence Rice is currently serving.

Eugene Rice

Appellant

Outcome: The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed Darren Rice's suspended sentence on grounds of undue leniency. Mr Justice McCarthy quashed the three-year suspended sentence and imposed a sentence of four years' imprisonment with the final year suspended for two years, which is to run consecutively to the three-year sentence Rice is currently serving.

Places mentioned

Secondary Mention
Court Venue
  • Court of Appeal
  • Cork
  • Cork Circuit Court
  • Cork Circuit Criminal Court
Residence
  • Angelsea Terrace
  • Cork City
  • Glanmire Road
  • North Main Street
Address Area
  • Douglas Street
  • Washington Street
  • Shandon Street

Topics

Stage Appeal Theft

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