SEX OFFENDER ANTHONY LYONS GIVEN LONGER SENTENCE
Sex offender Anthony Lyons has been sent back to prison for another 18 months.
The Court of Criminal Appeal has ruled that 53-year-old businessman’s original six month custodial sentence was “unduly lenient” and didn’t give effect to the gravity of the crime.
The Court also ruled that a 200,000 euro civil settlement agreed between Lyons and his victim – is not a relevant mitigating factor.
In the early hours of October 3rd 2010, Anthony Lyons violently sexually assaulted a 27-year-old woman as she walked down a Dublin street.
At his trial in 2012 – Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced him to six years in prison with 5-and-a-half years suspended – and ordered him to pay 75-thousand euro in compensation.
The DPP had argued that the sentence didn’t reflect the gravity of the crime – or its effect on the victim and wider society.
At the Court of Criminal Appeal this morning, 53-year-old Lyons – from Griffith Avenue in Dublin – bowed his head and was comforted by a family member as he learned he’d be returned to prison.
Mr Justice John Murray said the trial judge had erred in principle by placing undue weight on mitigating factors – and quashed the original sentence – which he ruled as unduly lenient.
Mr Justice Murray said the sentence should effectively be extended to four times its original length – while taking into account the 6 months Lyons already served.
That means he will spend another 18 months in prison.
The Court of Criminal Appeal had heard earlier this month how the aviation broker had settled civil proceedings with his victim for just under 200,000 euro.
However, Mr Justice John Murray has now ruled that the settlement was not a relevant mitigating factor.
Lyons has now been returned to jail.
