Sentence doubled for heroin addict over violent disorder in “vulnerable” man's home

Richard Sweeney, aged 27 of Railway Lough, Belturbet, Co Cavan, has had his prison sentence doubled by the Court of Appeal following a prosecution challenge that his original term was unduly lenient. Sweeney had pleaded guilty at Cavan Circuit Criminal Court to violent disorder in the home of a vulnerable man in Belturbet on 24 February 2014. He was initially sentenced to two years imprisonment with six months suspended in March 2015. The Court of Appeal found the sentence fell considerably short of reflecting the gravity of the offence, in which Sweeney was one of four masked men who forced entry to the victim's home, threatened to kill him, and subjected him to a severe assault involving weapons. Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, delivering judgment, noted aggravating factors including the planned nature of the attack, the victim's vulnerability, and violation of his home. Sweeney was re-sentenced to four years imprisonment with the final year suspended.