Courts / Kilkenny / Report

Man involved in tiger kidnapping of Kilkenny All-Ireland hurling champion loses appeal against sentence

Summary

Stephen Freeman, 28, of Ballymun, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery at the Bank of Ireland in Kilkenny on 3 November 2009. He was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, by Judge Desmond Hogan on 28 July 2015. Freeman's appeal against the sentence was dismissed by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan on 15 October 2015. Sheehan described the robbery as "difficult to contemplate a more egregious form of attempted robbery" and noted that Freeman was not involved in planning the crime or attending the victim's house. Freeman's role was to move money between locations in Kilkenny. The judge applied proportionality and considered mitigating factors, including Freeman's gambling addiction, before dismissing the appeal. The decision was made by a panel including Judges John Edwards and Alan Mahon. The sentence was upheld as not excessive.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man involved in tiger kidnapping of Kilkenny All-Ireland hurling champion loses appeal against sentence. Charges or matters: attempted robbery with others at Bank of Ireland, Parliament Street, Kilkenny on November 3 2009. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

• November 3 2009 Hearing Or Sentence
• July 28 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2015-10-15 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Appeal Theft

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Read the original CNI report