Courts / Louth / Report
Architect of 'barbaric' attack on businessman fails in bid to overturn conviction
Summary
William Twomey, with an address in Warrenpoint, County Down, has failed in his appeal against conviction at the Court of Appeal in relation to an attack on a Mayo businessman in County Louth in December 2017. Twomey was found guilty at the Special Criminal Court in September 2021 of robbery, assault causing harm, and demanding money with menaces. He received concurrent sentences totalling three years, with the final year suspended, dating from August 2021. The trial heard that Twomey orchestrated a plan to lure the businessman to Omeath under false pretences, resulting in a violent robbery. On appeal, Twomey's counsel argued he had withdrawn from the joint enterprise by notifying gardaí and the PSNI. However, the Court of Appeal found the trial court had properly assessed the evidence and determined his steps were insufficient to constitute effective withdrawal. Mr Justice Edwards stated the Special Criminal Court's findings were thorough, rigorous, and open to them on the evidence presented. The appeal was dismissed.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Architect of 'barbaric' attack on businessman fails in bid to overturn conviction. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Found guilty
When:
- September 2021 Incident
- December 2017 Incident
- December 2, 2017 Incident
- August 29, 2021 Incident
- 2023-04-25 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Finding: Found guilty
Outcome: Found guilty; He was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to two years' imprisonment for assault causing harm and three years imprisonment for robbery and making a demand with menaces, with the final year of the said three-year sentence suspended.
Places mentioned
- Havelock Place
- Special Criminal Court
- Court of Appeal
Topics
Stage Appeal Theft Violent Crime
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