Man jailed for farmer’s burglary ordeal

A man has received a four-year sentence for terrorising a 64-year-old unmarried farmer who was assaulted and tied up at his isolated home during the ordeal.

At Ennis Circuit Court, Judge Gerald Keys imposed the four-year term, suspending the final 14 months, on Dean O’Connor, aged 24, of Ferndale, Ennis Rd, Limerick.

Mr O’Connor was on bail at the time of the offence and Judge Keys described Mr O’Connor’s “well-planned operation” to falsely imprison, assault and steal from PJ Looney at his isolated home near the west Clare village of Kilmihil in August 2014 as “a cowardly act”.