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Violent, on-bail offender's 3-year sentence for series of vicious attacks on partner and threat to eat her liver too lenient, State argues
Summary
The Court of Appeal heard an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions against the sentence imposed on Ian Doyle, who pleaded guilty to assaulting a woman causing her harm and threatening to kill or cause serious harm to her in February 2023. Doyle, who was on bail for assaulting a different partner at the time, was sentenced by Judge Orla Crowe to a headline term of five years, reduced to three years and six months with the final six months suspended. This sentence runs consecutive to a term expiring in April 2026. The State argued the sentence was too lenient, contending it represented a gross departure from the norm and that the sentencing judge erred by failing to adequately reflect aggravating factors, including Doyle's 74 previous convictions and the fact he committed the offences while on bail. Counsel for the DPP argued the threat to kill should have been the gauge offence rather than the assault, and that excessive weight was given to the late guilty plea. Doyle's counsel argued the sentence was within the available range and that the judge correctly treated the assault as the primary offence. The court reserved its judgment on the appeal.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Violent, on-bail offender's 3-year sentence for series of vicious attacks on partner and threat to eat her liver too lenient, State argues. Charges or matters: assaulting the woman causing her harm and threatening to kill or cause serious harm to the woman on dates in February 2023. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- February 2023 Incident
- April 2026 Incident
- Saturday, February 18 Incident
- 2025-10-14 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: assaulting the woman causing her harm and threatening to kill or cause serious harm to the woman on dates in February 2023 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Counsel contended the sentence imposed represented a gross departure from the norm. She argued the sentencing judge made an error by failing to adequately reflect the many aggravating factors of the case in the sentence imposed.
Places mentioned
Topics
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