Court reserves judgment in O'Donoghue case

The Court of Criminal Appeal has reserved judgment on an appeal by the DPP against the four-year sentence imposed on Wayne O'…

The Court of Criminal Appeal has reserved judgment on an appeal by the DPP against the four-year sentence imposed on Wayne O'Donoghue for the manslaughter of schoolboy Robert Holohan (11).

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) today appealed the Cork man's sentence on the grounds that it was too lenient, in his view.

The DPP based his appeal application on six grounds, including a general one that the sentence imposed is too lenient and that it failed to take into account O'Donoghue's concealment of the killing and of the child's body.

O'Donoghue (21) was sentenced earlier this year for the manslaughter on January 4th, 2005, of Robert Holohan whose body was found dumped at Inch Strand near Midleton, Co Cork, on January 12th, 2005.

O'Donoghue had pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Robert at the outset of his trial and after he was acquitted of the murder.

Robert's mother, Majella Holohan, had written to the DPP asking him to appeal the leniency of the sentence.

The Court of Criminal Appeal will deliver its judgment on the matter at a later date.

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