David Shanley sentenced to 6½ years for manslaughter

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

The Court of Appeal sentenced David Shanley to six-and-a-half years in prison, with the final three years suspended on conditions, after finding his original manslaughter sentence unduly lenient. Mr Justice Mahon delivered the judgment on 21 December 2017.

Shanley was originally charged with murder. He pleaded not guilty to murder and guilty to manslaughter, a plea accepted by the Director of Public Prosecutions. He was convicted of manslaughter by the Central Criminal Court on 20 June 2016.

On 24 October 2016, he received a five-year sentence, with the final two-and-a-half years suspended on conditions for two-and-a-half years after release. The original conditions included a good-behaviour bond and observing his bail conditions, particularly those requiring him to keep away from certain people. The DPP applied for a review, and the Court of Appeal quashed that sentence.

The case concerned the death of John Lawlor at his home in Ballinatray Lower, Courtown Harbour, Co Wexford, on 24 December 2013. Shanley had brought a knife, which he said was for self-defence. During a struggle he stabbed Lawlor below the knee; the wound cut a varicose vein and caused fatal bleeding. Shanley said he stabbed Lawlor unintentionally while trying to throw the knife away.

The proceedings were reported on 21 December 2017.