Maura Thornton loses manslaughter sentence appeal

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

Maura Thornton’s manslaughter sentence appeal was dismissed by the Court of Appeal on 21 July 2015, leaving her with 10 years’ imprisonment, the final three suspended on terms. Mr. Justice Sheehan found no error in the sentencing approach or sentence imposed. The offence involved the stabbing death of Kevin Joyce in Salthill on 31 July 2011.

Thornton had been acquitted of murder but found guilty of manslaughter after a jury trial concluded on 28 January 2013. A sentencing hearing took place on 11 March 2013, and she was sentenced on 13 March 2013. She had offered to plead guilty to manslaughter. The appeal court found that the sentencing judge had taken her remorse and that offer into account.

The final two and a half years were suspended on terms designed to encourage her rehabilitation. A further six months were suspended to account for time spent in custody before sentencing, bringing the total suspended portion to three years.

Although the court rejected her appeal ground concerning custody credit, it left open the possibility of the authorities allowing up to six further weeks’ credit if six months did not cover all her time in custody before sentencing. This was conditional, rather than an additional reduction awarded by the court.