Victim’s mother vows to appeal four-year sentence

THE packed courtroom of the Central Criminal Court in Ennis was taken completely by surprise when Majella Holohan, the victim’s mother, departed from her prepared victim impact statement to describe semen found on her 11-year-old son’s body, before the killer was sentenced.

Mr Justice Paul Carney yesterday sentenced 21-year-old Wayne O’Donoghue to four years in prison. This sentence was backdated to January 16, 2005 when the defendant went into custody.

Before he made his judgement, Mr Justice Carney told Ms Holohan: “I want to prepare you for the fact that the sentence I am going to impose is going to upset you.”