Man will appeal 17-year sentence for ‘lifting’ child

A man jailed for falsely imprisoning an 11-year-old girl he “lifted” from a green area next to her hall door has moved to appeal against the severity of his 17-year sentence.

Michael Martin, aged 37, who was living at Shandon Court, Yellow Road, Waterford City when the incident occurred, had pleaded guilty to false imprisonment of the girl along the roadside near Oldtown, Cullohill, Co Laois on March 4 last.

Judge Keenan Johnson sentenced Martin at Portlaoise Circuit Criminal Court to 17 years imprisonment with the final four suspended on November 5, 2015.