Ireland Supreme Court upholds 12-year sentence for burglary getaway driver
On 19 October 2019 John Faulkner, a 41-year-old man from Cork, acted as getaway driver in a burglary at a house in rural County Cork, where the victims were an elderly couple. When his two companions were arrested at the scene, he drove off at high speed while pursued by gardaí, and the two companions later pleaded guilty and received nine-year sentences in 2020, with two years discounted. Faulkner denied the charges, but a jury found him guilty on 22 April 2021, and he was sentenced to 12 years for burglary with concurrent two-year terms for endangerment and dangerous driving. The Court of Appeal dismissed his severity appeal on 15 December 2022, and on 25 April 2024 the Supreme Court dismissed his appeal against sentence, upholding the 12-year term.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court25 Apr
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced25 Apr
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- John Faulkner, a 41-year-old man from Cork, was the getaway driver in the burglary.
- When his two companions were arrested at the scene, Faulkner, who had been waiting outside, drove off at high speed and dangerously on blind bends.
- Faulkner was pursued by gardaí as he drove away.
- The victims were an elderly couple, aged 86 and 89 at the time.
- Where
- The burglary took place at a house in rural County Cork.
- When
- The burglary and the arrests of the two companions took place on 19 October 2019.
- Charges
- Faulkner denied the charges against him.
- In court
- A unanimous jury found Faulkner guilty on 22 April 2021.
- The Court of Appeal dismissed Faulkner's severity appeal on 15 December 2022.
- The Supreme Court granted leave to appeal by determination dated 12 June 2023.
- On 25 April 2024 the Supreme Court dismissed Faulkner's appeal against sentence, with five judges agreeing, and upheld the 12-year sentence.
- Sentence
- Faulkner was sentenced to 12 years for burglary, with concurrent two-year sentences for endangerment and dangerous driving.
- The two companions pleaded guilty and were given nine-year sentences in 2020, with two years discounted for mitigating factors.
- Other details
- The Supreme Court held that the Casey criteria are appropriate sentencing guidelines for burglary cases.
- Burglary carries a maximum sentence of 14 years' imprisonment and a fine.
22 statements extracted from the articles
- whatFaulkner's role in the burglary was that of getaway driver. (courts.ie)
- whatAfter the other two burglars were arrested, Faulkner drove off at high speed in the getaway car, driving dangerously. (courts.ie)
- whatFaulkner was waiting outside and drove off dangerously at high speed while pursued by gardaí. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe burglary took place at a house in rural County Cork. (courts.ie)
- whereThe two companions were arrested while burgling a house in rural Co Cork. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe burglary took place on 19 October 2019. (courts.ie)
- whenThe intruders were arrested at the scene on 19 October 2019. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeFaulkner denied the charges but was found guilty by a unanimous jury verdict in April 2021. (irishtimes.com)
- courtA jury found Faulkner guilty on 22 April 2021. (courts.ie)
- courtThe Court of Appeal dismissed Faulkner's appeal against sentence on 15 December 2022. (courts.ie)
- courtThe Supreme Court granted leave to appeal by determination dated 12 June 2023. (courts.ie)
- courtThe Supreme Court ordered that the appeal be dismissed. (courts.ie)
- courtThe Court of Appeal dismissed Faulkner's severity appeal in 2022, and the Supreme Court dismissed it later. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge found there was no discernible mitigation and the sentence was justified. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceFaulkner was sentenced to 12 years for the burglary, with concurrent 2-year sentences for endangerment and dangerous driving. (courts.ie)
- sentenceThe two other burglars, who pleaded guilty, were given a headline sentence of 9 years with a 2-year discount for mitigating factors. (courts.ie)
- sentenceThe Supreme Court upheld the 12-year sentence imposed on a getaway driver in a burglary trio. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceFaulkner received 12 years' imprisonment for burglary, with concurrent two-year sentences for endangerment and dangerous driving. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe co-offenders pleaded guilty and received nine-year sentences in 2020, with two years discounted for mitigating factors. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe Supreme Court held that the Casey criteria are appropriate sentencing guidelines for burglary cases. (courts.ie)
- otherBurglary carries a maximum sentence of 14 years' imprisonment and a fine. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe burgled couple were aged 86 and 89 at the time. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 25 Apr2024Supreme Court upholds 12-year sentence for burglary team’s getaway driver
Supreme Court dismissed Faulkner's appeal against sentence, with five judges agreeing. The article gives the sentencing background, the co-offenders' sentences and the reasoning for upholding the 12-year term.
convicted, John Faulkner, 41, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Faulknerconvictedconvictedvictim, 86victim, 89 - 25 Apr2024[2024] IESC 16 Supreme Court: The People (at the suit of the Director of Public Prosecutions) -V- John Faulkner
Supreme Court judgment dismissing Faulkner's appeal against sentence. It sets out the grounds of appeal, the Court of Appeal decision of 15 December 2022, and the co-accused's guilty-plea sentence.