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'You'd get less for manslaughter': criminal with 231 previous convictions complains about 5.5-year jail term

Summary

Michael Farrell, aged 32, was sentenced to six years in prison with the final six months suspended for assault, threatening to kill, and possessing a realistic imitation firearm. He has 231 prior convictions, including violent offences, and has a mild intellectual disability and a serious brain injury from a childhood accident. Farrell argued that the judge failed to give adequate weight to his personal circumstances and that the suspended portion was too short. Counsel Karl Monahan BL contended that a longer suspension would aid rehabilitation, citing Farrell's complex needs and developmental issues. State counsel Derek Cooney BL maintained that the judge had applied appropriate mitigation and that Farrell's history of recidivism justified the sentence. The court reserved judgment on the appeal. Farrell had previously threatened a female Garda with ammonia and attacked two prison officers in 2022. The firearm incident occurred in 2020 when Farrell displayed a realistic imitation weapon in his garden. Michael Farrell pleaded guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'You'd get less for manslaughter': criminal with 231 previous convictions complains about 5.5-year jail term. Charges or matters: two counts of assault causing harm in 2022, one count of threatening to kill or cause serious harm in 2021 and a fourth count of possessing a realistic imitation firearm in a tree at his home in Montpelier Gardens, Dublin 7 in 2020. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

• March 10, 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2024-07-12 Publication

Why: Mr Monahan said because of Farrell's "very complex needs" and developmental issues, he was someone who would need considerable time to work with the relevant services. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Appeal Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report