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Court upholds 10.5-year sentence for first coercive control conviction in Ireland

Date
2023-03-30
Stage
Appeal
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

In a landmark case, Daniel Kane, aged 54, was convicted by a jury of coercive control, intimidation, assault and 12 counts of assault causing harm after a 20‑month abusive relationship in which he repeatedly attacked his partner, burned her foot, cut her face with a pizza slicer, head‑butted her after nasal surgery, punched her and stamped on her arm causing fractures, and strangled her. He also threatened to send explicit images to her family if she withdrew the case. Kane was sentenced to 10.5 years in January 2021. On 30 March 2023 the Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal, finding no error in the trial judge's sentencing. The court noted the prolonged, oppressive, domineering and violent conduct, the significant physical and emotional harm inflicted, and that the sentence was within the mid‑to‑upper range of penalties available. The appeal was dismissed, leaving the 10.5‑year sentence in place. Daniel Kane pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Court upholds 10.5-year sentence for first coercive control conviction in Ireland. Charges or matters: all the offences at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court; a separate charge of intending to pervert the course of justice in the period between March and July 2020. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

Case subjects

Daniel Kane

Convicted Person

Charges: all the offences at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court; a separate charge of intending to pervert the course of justice in the period between March and July 2020 (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Outcome: He was sentenced to 10.5 years by Judge Elma Sheahan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in January 2021. Ms Lawlor said the assaults were of the most serious kind, that Kane had never expressed remorse at the trial and that the trial judge imposed a "significant" sentence on the appellant that had due regard to proportionality and the totality of the offending.

Places mentioned

Residence
Court Venue
  • Dublin
  • Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
  • Court of Appeal
Incident

Topics

Stage Appeal Violent Crime

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