Richard Bourke’s criminal damage sentence appeal dismissed

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

Richard Bourke’s appeal against an 11-year sentence, with the final three years suspended, for criminal damage was dismissed by the Court of Appeal on 13 November 2020.

The sentence followed his guilty pleas to criminal damage offences, including setting fire to the Griffin family home in February 2019.

The appeal court rejected his argument that the sentence was excessive, finding an element of premeditation because he had purchased petrol before the attack.