Courts / Dublin / Report

Criminal makes u-turn on drug treatment after 10 days in custody

Date
2024-04-19

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Lisa Lee, 41, who had previously discarded a knife used in the killing of Isaac Horgan, was in custody for breaching the terms of her suspended sentence. She had been sentenced to four years, with the final two suspended on the condition of good behaviour and engagement with probation services. After spending ten days in custody, Lee's barrister, Ronan Munro SC, informed Judge Tony Hunt that she had changed her mind about the judge's offer to enter a drug treatment programme. Lee now agreed to attend rapid detox and residential care for her addiction issues, accepting the court's conditions. The judge acknowledged her limited engagement with probation services and noted that the suspended portion of her sentence had been activated by new charges. He emphasised that compliance with the treatment terms was essential and that failure to do so would result in a return to prison. Lisa Lee was convicted.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Criminal makes u-turn on drug treatment after 10 days in custody. Charges or matters: the manslaughter of Mr Horgan, who was 52 at the time of his death, at Markievicz House, Townsend Street, Dublin 2, on 29 March 2021. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted

When:

March 29, 2021 Hearing Or Sentence
29 March 2021 Hearing Or Sentence
2024-04-19 Publication

Case subjects

Lisa Lee

Convicted Person

Charges: the manslaughter of Mr Horgan, who was 52 at the time of his death, at Markievicz House, Townsend Street, Dublin 2, on 29 March 2021 (Proven)

Finding: Convicted

Outcome: Convicted; Mr Justice Tony Hunt said he acknowledged that Lee had "engaged to some extent" with probation services and that he was going to mark that by activating 21 months of the suspended sentence before re-suspending it again for two years. "She has to understand that it means compliance with the terms and conditions imposed by the probation officer and that means hospital, detox and residential treatment and all of that is going to be difficult for her… and good for her," said Mr Justice Hunt. Mr Justice Hunt said he was giving Lee "one more chance" but if the terms and conditions attached to the suspended sentence were not abided by then "we just go back to the carousel of prison". "I emphasise: it is not for the probation service to be chasing her around.

Noel Lennon

Background Person

Charges: the manslaughter of Mr Horgan, who was 52 at the time of his death, at Markievicz House, Townsend Street, Dublin 2, on 29 March 2021 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty