black & white wrote: » I knew them both to see, both of them spent some time in Shannon, and Cooney killed Lynch with a Stanley knife, I think it was 1992 and it happened in or around a pub in Ennis. As I said, I don't remember all the details and wanted to read up on them.
black & white wrote: » I have been looking to read up on the murder of Robert Lynch in Ennis about 20 years ago and can only find mention about when Tony Killeen sent a letter looking for his killers release. Anyone know where I could get more info please ?
Director of Public Prosecutions v. Garrett Cooney (unreported, 27 July 2004) was an application for leave against severity of sentence where the applicant had been charged with murder, but pleaded guilty to manslaughter and sentenced to fourteen years' imprisonment. Counsel for the applicant argued that the trial judge had erred in principle in failing to provide cogent reasons for his decision in his sentencing judgment by not appearing to have considered any of the mitigating matters raised by the applicant or by not imposing a proportionate sentence referable to the circumstances of the case, the nature of the offence, its effect on the victim and the circumstances of the convicted person. The Court of Criminal Appeal held that whilst it couldn't submit that a sentencing judge is under an obligation to give reasons for a particular sentence that he or she imposes, it is a desirable practice as public confidence in the criminal justice system is enhanced when reasons for sentences are provided and it also facilitates review of the sentence by an appellate court. However, the court concluded that the trial judge erred in not properly considering the established relevant factors when imposing sentence. The court also found that the sentence was excessive, and imposed as the appropriate sentence a period of eight years' imprisonment.
