Appeal likely over leniency of Limerick blinding sentence

The DPP is likely to appeal the leniency of a three-year sentence handed down to a Limerick teenager who blinded a man for life after hitting him in the face with a a hurley, it has emerged.

Darren Frahill (aged 19) of Cosgrave Park, Moyross, Limerick, was jailed at Limerick Circuit Court last Wednesday, after he pleaded guilty to assaulting David Sheehan causing him serious harm on January 11, 2003, at West Singland Road, Garryowen, Limerick.

Sentencing against a co-accused, Kieran Malone (aged 20) of Larkin Drive, O'Malley Park, Limerick, who admitted a lesser charge of assaulting Mr Sheehan causing him harm on the same date, was adjourned for one year.

Mr Sheehan, who was 17 at the time of the assault, had both his eyeballs lacerated and was blinded permanently after Darren Frahill hit him a "vicious blow" across the bridge of his nose, the court heard.

Evidence was also heard that Mr Sheehan has suffered severe psychological trauma since the assualt and will need cosmetic eyes in the future as a result of suffering facial disfigurement.

Before imposing the three-year sentence on Wednesday, Judge Carroll Moran described the case as one of the most "horrendous" cases he's had to deal with.

Judge Moran went on to describe the case as "about as serious a case as one would expect to encounter in the circuit court", with the exception of manslaughter.

Yesterday at Limerick Circuit Court, Counsel for the State John O'Sullivan requested transcipts of the case, which was heard over two days.

This is a clear indication that the state is considering appealing against the "undue leniency" of the sentence, legal sources confirmed last night.

"The DPP has 28 days to appeal against the undue leniency of a sentence.

"A request for transcripts would clearly indicate that the DPP is considering such an action," said one legal source.

Judge Moran said the matter would have to be discussed in the presence of Mr Frahill's defence counsel Michael Maloney (BL) and adjourned the request until Mr Maloney was in court.