Sentence for stabbing of transvestite not unduly lenient, court rules
25/01/2010 - 16:24:35
http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/ireland/sentence-for-stabbing-of-transvestite-not-unduly-lenient-court-rules-443435.htmlThe sentence imposed on a young homeless man for stabbing a transvestite in the neck was not unduly lenient, the Court of Criminal Appeal held yesterday.
In turning down the State's appeal against leniency of sentence, the CCA of Mr Justice Joseph Finnegan presiding sitting with Mr Justice Declan Budd and Mr Justice Daniel O'Keefe held that although "at first sight", the term handed down to Vincent Murtagh "seems lenient indeed", given the circumstances of the case the sentence was "not unduly lenient".
Murtagh (aged 25) pleaded guilty to causing serious harm to a nurse, and was sentenced to five years in prison with the last two years suspended by Judge Desmond Hogan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on February 6, 2009.
