Assault sentence reduced on appeal

A young man who seriously assaulted another man, who was acting as a peacemaker during a fight, leaving him with severe neurological…

A young man who seriously assaulted another man, who was acting as a peacemaker during a fight, leaving him with severe neurological injuries, has succeeded in having his five-year jail term reduced on appeal.

Jamie Browne (21), St Brigid’s Terrace, Kells, was jailed for five years at Trim Circuit Criminal Court in October last year, after pleading guilty to assault causing serious harm to Shane Gaynor (24) on February 23rd, 2008.

The Court of Criminal Appeal said that having regard to Browne’s status as a first-time offender, his youth and the reports handed to the court in his favour, it considered the appropriate sentence to be one of four years, with the final year suspended.