Collopy gets 3 months cut from jail term

Limerick man Damien Collopy will be released next week after the Court of Criminal Appeal suspended the remaining three months of his five-year jail term for making threats to kill.

In May 2011 Damien Collopy, aged 23, and his brother Kieran Collopy, aged 37, were sentenced to eight years with three suspended by Judge Carroll Moran at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court having pleaded guilty to threatening to kill or cause serious harm to Willie Moran on Apr 14, 2010.

Damien Collopy, with a last address at St Mary's Park, was due for release in early January.

Mr Justice Frank Clarke yesterday said the appeal court was “reluctantly forced to conclude” that Judge Moran was in error in failing to reflect the difference between the brothers when imposing sentence.

Counsel for Collopy, Brian McInerney BL, argued that Judge Moran found both brothers were equally culpable, notwithstanding the disparity between their previous convictions. It was submitted that Damien Collopy’s convictions were mostly for minor road traffic matters, while Kieran Collopy had convictions for assault with intent to rob as well as for making threats to kill or cause serious harm.

Mr Justice Clarke said that as Damien Collopy was due for release in January, the court would suspend the balance of his sentence from Oct 7.