Suspended sentence extended for man over aggravated burglary at former wife's home

A man has had the suspended portion of his sentence for aggravated burglary increased by the Court of Appeal following an undue leniency review. Andrzej Topolski, aged 50 and formerly of Castlebar, County Mayo, had pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary at his former wife's home in Blackfort Manor, Castlebar on 22 March 2015. The Circuit Court had sentenced him to three years in July 2016, suspending the unserved balance after he had spent eleven months in custody awaiting trial. The Court of Appeal increased the suspended sentence to five years. Mr Justice George Birmingham noted the offence occurred in a domestic context following the breakdown of Topolski's marriage, though the court determined a higher starting point of seven years would have been more appropriate. The judge acknowledged Topolski had secured employment as a stone mason during seventeen months at liberty and found that immediate incarceration would be unduly harsh. Topolski was ordered to undertake good behaviour and maintain no contact with the injured party or his former wife for five years.