Three Waterford men who ambushed a prison van to effect the escape of a convicted armed robber had their two year sentences increased to five years by the Court of Criminal Appeal today.
The court upheld the DPP's argument that the two year term was "unduly lenient" and imposed five year sentences on Christopher Connolly (27) Priory Lawn, Ballybeg, Derek Dunphy (26), Clonard Park, Ballybeg and Anthony Keating (35), Morrison's Road, for their part in effecting the escape of prisoner Adrian Duke as Duke returned from Waterford Circuit Criminal Court on February 1st 2001.
Duke, from Farranree, Cork, was recaptured and an additional two years was added to his original ten year sentence, imposed in June 2001 for an IR£7,000 raid on a McDonalds restaurant at Douglas, Cork.
Mr Justice Fennelly, presiding over the three judge court and sitting with Ms Justice Carroll and Mr Justcie White, said the ambush, on any view, was an extremely serious crime involving a deliberate and well organised scheme to release a prisoner from lawful custody by organised violence.