Man jailed for post office robbery

A man who raped and killed a Cork beautician has had another four years added to his 12-year sentence today – for robbing an elderly couple while he was out on bail.

Ian Horgan (aged 26), of The Hermitage, Macroom, Co Cork, is serving 12 years for killing and raping Rachel Kiely who was out walking her dogs in Ballincollig when she was attacked by Horgan in October 2000.

When out on bail pending appeal of that sentence he committed the robbery for which he was jailed for four years today.

With remission of sentence Horgan would have been due for release from prison in September this year, it emerged today. Apart from a nine-month period on bail he has been in jail since he was 16 years old for the rape and manslaughter of Ms Kiely.

As a result of the sentencing that took place at Cork Circuit Criminal Court today he will commence a new four-year sentence when he completes the rape and manslaughter sentence later this year.

Referring to the Rachel Kiely killing, defence senior counsel, Tim O’Leary, said, “It was a notorious offence committed when he was under the age of majority. I would ask you to give him some possibility of redemption in his extremely bleak life. He does want to change. He does want to try. He does not want to spend the entirety of his life in jail.”

Judge Patrick J. Moran said to Horgan, “You have done many courses in prison. I hope you have learned something. I hope you will be able to follow a relatively normal occupation and that you will get assistance.”

The consecutive four-year sentence was then imposed. Three years ago, the same robbery case went to trial, Horgan was found guilty and sentenced to eight years but he appealed it successfully and it was listed for re-trial on Monday when he finally pleaded guilty to carrying out a robbery at Clondrohid post office on September 6, 2005 and stealing a car from outside the premises.

Judge Moran said it must have been an appalling event for Mr Healy and the late Mrs Healy, who were in their 70s at the time of the robbery at the kitchen of their home behind the village post office.