THE COURT of Criminal Appeal has reserved judgment on a Dublin teenager’s appeal against the severity of a 10-year prison sentence imposed on him for the manslaughter of another teenager.
The three-judge appeal court said Finn Colclough’s appeal raised “a number of important issues” and it would reserve its decision. Mr Justice Joseph Finnegan said the court hoped to give judgement “as soon as possible”.
Colclough (19), Waterloo Road, Ballsbridge, was jailed last year for the manslaughter of Seán Nolan (18). Colclough stabbed Mr Nolan with two knives during a confrontation outside the Colclough family home in Dublin on May 26th, 2007.
Colclough was charged with murder and his plea of manslaughter was rejected by the Director of Public Prosecution.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court convicted him of manslaughter following a six-day trial in October 2008 and the 10-year sentence was imposed by Mr Justice Paul Carney. Moving Colclough’s appeal against severity of sentence yesterday, Patrick Gageby SC said the trial judge erred in imposing a severe sentence of 10 years for manslaughter on a person of Colclough’s age, his client being just 17 at the time of the offence.
Mr Gageby also argued that Mr Justice Carney had not given Colclough sufficient credit for the fact he had admitted the manslaughter of Mr Nolan in advance of the trial, a plea which was rejected by the Director of Public Prosecution.
Mary Ellen Ring SC, for the DPP, said the sentence was appropriate and should remain undisturbed.