Courts / Dublin / Report
Robber who pistol-whipped garage worker has jail term increased
Summary
Lee McDonnell, 23, of Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of an imitation firearm with intent to commit robbery at Sarsfield Service Station on 21 January 2012, and to robbery of cigarettes, a sunglass case and a shop assistant. He was originally sentenced to six years imprisonment, three of which were suspended. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentence was too lenient. The Court of Appeal set a new effective sentence of six years imprisonment with the final year suspended, and a concurrent four‑year sentence for the robbery charge. The new sentences run concurrently with a five‑year sentence for a burglary committed in 2011, and McDonnell is already serving a nine‑year sentence with two years suspended for aggravated burglary. The appeal was heard by a three‑judge panel, and the court noted McDonnell's 111 prior convictions at the time of sentencing.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Robber who pistol-whipped garage worker has jail term increased. Charges or matters: possession of an imitation firearm with intent to commit robbery at Sarsfield Service Station, Ballyfermot on January 21 2012; robbery of cigarettes and a sunglass case and to robbery of the shop assistant on the same occasion. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- January 21 2012 Incident
- November 19 2012 Hearing Or Sentence
- July 2014 Incident
- March 15 2011 Incident
- January 23 2011 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2015-06-08 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: possession of an imitation firearm with intent to commit robbery at Sarsfield Service Station, Ballyfermot on January 21 2012; robbery of cigarettes and a sunglass case and to robbery of the shop assistant on the same occasion (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He was sentenced to six years imprisonment with the final three suspended by Judge Martin Nolan at on November 19 2012. The Director of Public Prosecutions successfully appealed McDonnell's three year jail term on grounds that it was "unduly lenient" and the Court of Appeal imposed a new effective sentence on him today of six years imprisonment with the final year suspended.
Places mentioned
- Lough Conn road
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Court of Appeal
Topics
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