Courts / Mayo / Report
No reduction in sentence for man who falsely imprisoned island couple on Valentine's night
Summary
Michael McMahon has been denied a reduction to his nine-year jail sentence following an appeal heard in the Court of Appeal. McMahon, aged 49 and resident in County Louth, pleaded guilty at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Seán Lavelle and falsely imprisoning Mr and Mrs Lavelle at their Achill Island home on 14 February 2010. He received a twelve-year term with the final three years suspended in January 2012. His appeal against sentence severity was dismissed on grounds that the trial judge had not sufficiently considered his offer of compensation to the victims. Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan stated the couple had returned home to find two masked intruders who tied and beat Mr Lavelle and restrained Mrs Lavelle. Both victims reported lasting psychological trauma. McMahon's offered compensation of €20,000 was rejected by the injured parties. The court found no error in sentencing and dismissed the appeal unanimously.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: No reduction in sentence for man who falsely imprisoned island couple on Valentine's night. Charges or matters: assault causing harm to Seán Lavelle and to the false imprisonment of Mr Lavelle and his wife Emer, at their home on Achill Island on February 14, 2010. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- February 14, 2010 Incident
- January 16, 2012 Other
- 2016-01-19 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: assault causing harm to Seán Lavelle and to the false imprisonment of Mr Lavelle and his wife Emer, at their home on Achill Island on February 14, 2010 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment with the final three suspended by Mr Justice Tony Hunt on January 16, 2012. McMahon had an appeal against the severity of his sentence dismissed today on the single ground that the judge erred in failing to attach sufficient weight to his offer of compensation to the victims.
Places mentioned
Topics
Related court reports
- Cocaine addict who killed drug dealer and 'trussed up' his body gets eight years
- Family of shooting victim left in wardrobe 'baffled' at how killer continued with life 'as normal'
- Manslaughter verdict for man who killed drug dealer and left him in wardrobe
- Wardrobe murder trial jury to continue deliberating after 11 hours out
- Jury to deliberate for third day in wardrobe murder trial
- Jury in wardrobe murder trial ask to view gun
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request