Courts / Dublin / Report

Three prisoners sentenced to three years for assaulting fellow Mountjoy inmate

Date
2015-03-13

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Ballymun

County
Dublin

Summary

Three men – Gary Freeman (27), Barry Gannon (36) and John Redmond (38) – were found guilty of assault causing harm and violent disorder after a 12‑day trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The offence took place in the yard of Mountjoy Prison on 28 August 2012 when the men attacked prisoner William McDonagh, pushing him to the ground and kicking him, as shown on CCTV footage. The court saw that Gannon struck McDonagh with a mop head, Redmond kicked and punched him, and Freeman punched and stamped on his head. McDonagh suffered lacerations, a damaged ear and bruising, and required 30 sutures. Each defendant was sentenced to three years' imprisonment with the final year suspended; Freeman's and Gannon's terms were back‑dated to 26 February 2015, and Redmond's to 18 December 2013. The judge noted the defendants' prior convictions and their expressions of remorse and rehabilitation efforts. Gary Freeman pleaded not guilty. Barry Gannon pleaded not guilty. John Redmond pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Three prisoners sentenced to three years for assaulting fellow Mountjoy inmate. Charges or matters: assault causing harm to prisoner William McDonagh and violent disorder in the yard of Mountjoy Prison on August 28, 2012. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

August 28, 2012 Incident
October 8, 2012 Hearing Or Sentence
December 18, 2013 Incident
February 26, 2015 Other
2015-03-13 Publication

Case subjects

Barry Gannon

Defendant

Charges: assault causing harm to prisoner William McDonagh and violent disorder in the yard of Mountjoy Prison on August 28, 2012 (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Outcome: She ordered all three to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for three years, and backdated Freeman's and Gannon's sentence to February 26, 2015.

Gary Freeman

Defendant

Charges: assault causing harm to prisoner William McDonagh and violent disorder in the yard of Mountjoy Prison on August 28, 2012 (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Outcome: She ordered all three to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for three years, and backdated Freeman's and Gannon's sentence to February 26, 2015.

John Redmond

Defendant

Charges: assault causing harm to prisoner William McDonagh and violent disorder in the yard of Mountjoy Prison on August 28, 2012 (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Outcome: Redmond's sentence was backdated to December 18, 2013.