The Court of Appeal has increased the sentence imposed on John Doyle for his part in a violent attack on a 59-year-old man inside his home at St Mary's Terrace, Belturbet, Co Cavan.
Doyle had pleaded guilty to violent disorder arising from the attack on William White on 24 February 2014. Wexford was not involved; the incident occurred in Belturbet, where four men entered White's unlocked kitchen between 9pm and 11pm.
White was struck on the head with a metal object, threatened with a knife and stabbed in the face. He was knocked to the floor and kicked. Threats were also made to cut his throat, pour hot ashes on him and put him into the lit fireplace. A bucket was placed over his head before he managed to escape and seek help from neighbours.
His injuries included a large scalp wound, a facial stab wound, fractures of the nasal bone, extensive swelling and bruising, and injuries to his hand and knee. The court also found he had been psychologically traumatised.
Doyle had originally been charged with assault causing harm, violent disorder and burglary. He pleaded guilty to violent disorder on a full-facts basis. The sentencing judge imposed two years' imprisonment with no suspension.
The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed on the basis that this was unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal agreed. It described the attack as a gross violation of both White's home and person and held that the offence belonged around the middle of the available zero-to-ten-year sentencing range before mitigation.
The court did not treat Doyle as the man who personally wielded the knife, because that allegation had remained disputed and had not been determined at a separate factual hearing. He remained responsible on a joint-enterprise basis for what happened.
The court set a five-year sentence and suspended the final two years for five years after release, subject to good behaviour and Probation Service supervision. The resulting custodial term was three years.