Courts / Cork / Report

DPP's appeal against nightclub glass attack sentence raises "substantial issues"

Date
2016-04-11
Stage
Appeal
Primary locality
Cork
County
Cork

Summary

The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment on whether to return Jordan O'Donovan, 21, to jail for a nightclub glass assault. O'Donovan pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm to another man in a Cork nightclub on 27 December 2013. He was sentenced at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to three years imprisonment, with the final two years suspended by Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin on 28 October 2014. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) appealed, arguing the sentence was "unduly lenient". DPP counsel Donal O'Sullivan BL said O'Donovan struck a young man with a glass, causing severe facial injuries that required surgery, and that the Circuit Court judge erred in not stating the offence's severity on the scale. He claimed the custodial element was "significantly out of kilter" and that a starting point of four to seven years is required for mid‑range serious assaults.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: DPP's appeal against nightclub glass attack sentence raises "substantial issues". Charges or matters: assault causing serious harm to another man in a Cork nightclub on December 27, 2013. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

Case subjects

Jordan O'Donovan

Appellant

Charges: assault causing serious harm to another man in a Cork nightclub on December 27, 2013 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: He was sentenced at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to three years imprisonment with the final two suspended by Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin on October 28, 2014. The Director of Public Prosecutions have sought a review of Jordan O'Donovan's sentence on grounds that it was "unduly lenient".

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • Court of Appeal
  • Cork
  • Cork Circuit Criminal Court
Residence
Incident

Topics

Stage Appeal Violent Crime

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

Correction or retraction request

If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.

Email a correction request