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Extortioner who threatened to slit child's throat loses sentence appeal
Summary
Dylan Mangan, the lead assailant in an extortion plot, failed to convince the Court of Appeal to reduce his five-year sentence for threatening two victims with violence and demanding €20,000. Mangan, who has 18 previous convictions, was identified through CCTV and was in possession of a phone used to contact the victims. His defense argued that the sentencing judge failed to consider the principle of parity with his co-accused, Des Smyth, who received a four-year sentence with part suspended. The Court of Appeal rejected the appeal, noting that Mangan's level of involvement was significantly greater than Smyth's and that the judge had a rational basis for the disparity in sentences. The court emphasized that Mangan was the principal perpetrator and had a more substantial criminal history. The threats involved slitting the throats of children and burning down homes, with the victims having no connection to the drug debt. The appeal was dismissed, with the court upholding the original sentence. Dylan Mangan pleaded guilty. Des Smyth pleaded guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Extortioner who threatened to slit child's throat loses sentence appeal. Charges or matters: the same offence. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- October 21, 2024 Incident
- March 2020 Incident
- January 28, 2025 Incident
- January 17, 2025 Incident
- March 20, 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2026-02-20 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: the same offence (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He was sentenced to four years with the final 18 months suspended for three years by Judge Orla Crowe on January 17, 2025.
Convicted Person
Charges: the same offence (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Mangan launched an appeal against his sentence last month, arguing the sentencing judge had failed to adequately consider the principle of parity and highlighting the 50% difference in Mangan's term of imprisonment and that imposed on his co-accused. In dismissing Mangan's appeal today, Mr Justice Anthony Collins observed that the maximum penalty that may be imposed for the offence of demanding money with menaces is a term of imprisonment of 14 years.
Places mentioned
Topics
Drugs Stage Appeal Violent Crime
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