A Limerick businessman has been jailed for a year for organising the abduction of a Liberian man who is still living in fear after being threatened that he would be shot by the IRA.
The Court of Criminal Appeal today imposed a three-year sentence on Raphael Mullally (40), Waterville, Ennis Road, Limerick, but suspended two years of that term, meaning Mullaly is to serve a year in prison.
The court was considering an appeal by the DPP against an earlier suspended sentence.
Describing the offence as extremely serious, the court allowed, on the application of Mr Hugh Hartnett SC, for Mullally, one week to get his business affairs in order and directed that the sentence take effect from May 11th.
The payment by Mullally of €30,000 compensation to his victim, Mr Jude Romanus, also stands.
Two other Limerick men, who between them have 50 previous convictions, are also serving a one-year term of imprisonment arising from the same offence. The two are Jonathan Goodison (24), Thomondgate, Limerick and Thomas McMahon (24), Flanker Court, Galvone Road, Limerick.
Mullally paid the two men €1,000 to kidnap Mr Romanus, who was assaulted by Mullally in the car park of a Limerick pub on January 15th, 2005.
Mullally ordered the abduction in a bid to secure the return of a watch that had been stolen in a robbery from his sister's house. Mullally wrongfully understood Mr Romanus had carried out the robbery.
Following his abduction, Mr Romanus, who had just moved to Ireland, was told he and his wife would be shot by the IRA if a gold watch and chain were not returned.
He protested his innocence of the robbery but was assaulted by Mullally and later that night, he received a phone call at home from a man who threatened to come to the house and kill Mr Romanus's wife.
Limerick Circuit Court had imposed a three-year suspended sentence on all three accused but that sentence was appealed to the Court of Criminal Appeal by the DPP on grounds of undue leniency.