Warren Brennan’s sentence increased after appeal over two offences

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

The Court of Appeal increased Warren Brennan’s aggregate prison sentence to 10 years, with the final three years suspended, after finding the original sentence unduly lenient. Its decision on 18 December 2017 followed an application by the Director of Public Prosecutions for a sentence review.

Brennan had pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to aggravated burglary, production of an article and obstructing a peace officer. He also pleaded guilty to robbery and production of an article. The proceedings were reported on 18 December 2017.

The first set of offences concerned a bookmakers on Lombard Street, Dublin, on 20 December 2014. The robbery and other charge concerned an incident at Alderwood Park, Tallaght, on 27 October 2015, while Brennan was on bail for the earlier offences.

Judge Catherine Murphy had imposed an aggregate sentence of seven years’ imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, on 30 January 2017. On appeal, Mr Justice George Birmingham said the court would impose consecutive five-year terms, with the final three years suspended. Brennan undertook to be bound by a good-behaviour bond for the suspended period.

The report said Brennan attacked a 71-year-old man with a hammer during the Tallaght incident. It said he had 54 previous convictions, including two for robbery and one for possession of a firearm and ammunition. Mr Justice Birmingham sat with Mr Justice Alan Mahon and Mr Justice John Edwards.