A circuit Court judge has declined to sentence a man involved in the 1997 Mountjoy Jail siege until an appeal is heard on a sentence he imposed on another prisoner involved in the riots.
Prison officers' representatives criticised Judge Dominic Lynch in February, when he jailed Eamonn Seery (34), of Coultry Road, Ballymun, and Edward Ferncombe (27) of Harelawn Drive, Clondalkin, for two and three years for their part in the riots. The POA said the sentences were too light, given the seriousness of the assaults against its members. The court had heard that prison officers were held hostage, threatened with strangulation and had blood- filled syringes held to their throats. Six prisoners held five prison officers hostage for 52 hours during the siege. The DPP has since appealed the two-year sentence given to Seery.
In court yesterday was Stephen Galvin (25), of Kilmore Road, Knocknaheeny, Co Cork, convicted of false imprisonment during the siege. There was heavy security for Galvin's hearing, with prison officers in riot gear outside.
Judge Lynch said psychiatric reports were important factors in sentencing Seery and Ferncombe. It was clear that Ferncombe has been locked up for 23 hours a day, and the prosecution had not challenged this evidence.
The Court of Criminal Appeal had yet to rule on Seery's sentence and it was important to consider the decision before sentencing Galvin.
He adjourned the case to October 12th and said two psychiatric reports on Galvin should be given to the defence and prosecution barristers.