Convicted killer jailed for robbery of post office

A convicted killer has been sentenced to eight years in prison for the robbery of a post office while he was out on bail after successfully appealing his conviction for the murder of a young woman.

Ian Horgan (23), The Hermitage, Macroom, Co Cork, was found guilty by a jury at Cork Circuit Criminal Court last week of robbing Clondrohid Post Office near Macroom and stealing a car from outside the premises on September 6th, 2005. He was remanded in custody to the court to yesterday for sentencing.

Horgan was convicted in 2002 of the murder of Rachel Kiely (22), who was found strangled in the regional park in Ballincollig in October 2000. He successfully appealed the conviction in 2004 and was released on bail.

He was out on bail in 2005 at the time of the robbery before his retrial. In 2006 he pleaded guilty to Ms Kiely's manslaughter and was found guilty of her rape and sentenced to eight years in jail, with six years suspended to take account of time he had served.

However, last April the Court of Criminal Appeal substituted a 12-year sentence on both counts backdated to 2001 following a successful appeal against the leniency of the sentence by the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The court heard that in September 2005, Horgan had gained entry to the shop cum post office through the living quarters of the premises at approximately 2pm.

Ted Healy (now 73), and his wife Mary were preparing dinner in the kitchen when Horgan held a rusted slash hook over them and made a demand for money.

Their son, Cornelius Healy, arrived shortly afterwards into the kitchen. He was forced into the hallway by Horgan and made to open a safe and hand over €1,500 in cash and lottery tickets. The three members of the Healy family were locked into the kitchen by Horgan who made his getaway in Con Healy's car.

That stolen car was found some days later in a field not far from Clondrohid village with a rusted slash hook and a black kitchen knife.

Forensic analysis of the knife revealed a DNA match that had a one in 24 million chance of not belonging to a member of Ian Horgan's family.

Sgt Pat Meaney told the court that Horgan was due for release on the manslaughter sentence in September 2010. He also had previous convictions for theft, handling stolen property and assault at Macroom District Court dating back to 2005.

Judge Cornelius Murphy said the robbery in this case was a grave offence that was carefully premeditated.

Horgan had taken advantage of older defenceless people in the course of the crime which had involved a degree of violence in the brandishing of a pick-hook.

"Undoubtedly, he damaged the fabric of this rural village in committing these crimes. A village post office and small shop is a social linchpin of rural and village life and considerable damage has been done to people's confidence in running such establishments," he commented.

Judge Murphy imposed a sentence of eight years in prison for the robbery to run consecutively to Horgan's present sentence.

He imposed a further three years to run concurrently to the eight years for the unlawful taking of the car. He also banned him from driving for 10 years.

Judge Murphy refused defence counsel leave to appeal, but allowed legal aid.