Courts / Dublin / Report

Youth with over 100 convictions has prison term cut for stealing Postman's van and running over his foot

Date
2016-07-05
Stage
Appeal
Primary locality
Lucan
County
Dublin

Summary

Brian Reilly, 20, of Boyne View, Navan, was convicted of reckless endangerment and theft of a vehicle after he stole a post van and drove over a postman's foot on 22 August 2013. In March 2015 Judge Patrick McCartan imposed consecutive sentences of five years for the endangerment and four years for the theft, suspending the last three years to deter re‑offending. Reilly appealed, and on 5 July 2016 the Court of Appeal, led by Justice Garrett Sheehan, found that the judge had not identified a headline offence and had not explained why a consecutive sentence was necessary. The appeal court also could not determine how mitigation and Reilly's guilty plea had been considered. Reilly's sentence was reduced to six years, with the final eighteen months suspended for the endangerment and three years for the theft, the sentences running concurrently and back‑dated to 11 September 2014.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Youth with over 100 convictions has prison term cut for stealing Postman's van and running over his foot. Charges or matters: reckless endangerment and theft of a vehicle at Rosscourt Grove, Lucan on August 22, 2013. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

Case subjects

Brian Reilly

Appellant

Charges: reckless endangerment and theft of a vehicle at Rosscourt Grove, Lucan on August 22, 2013 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Judge Patrick McCartan imposed consecutive sentences of five years and four years on the respective counts in March 2015. Mr Justice Sheehan, who sat with Mr Justice Alan Mahon and Mr John Edwards, re-sentenced Reilly to six years imprisonment with the final eighteen months suspended for reckless endangerment and three years for the theft of a vehicle.

Places mentioned

Residence
Court Venue
  • Dublin
  • Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
  • Court of Appeal
  • The appeal court
Secondary Mention
Incident

Topics

Stage Appeal Theft

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