Dessie O’Hare appeals sentence for falsely imprisoning family

Former INLA man Dessie O'Hare is to appeal his sentence for falsely imprisoning a family in South Dublin.

O’Hare, who was known as ‘The Border Fox’, was jailed by the Special Criminal Court for seven years last year for the crime he committed while evicting the family from their home.

His attack on another man on the same occasion was described as ‘disturbingly violent’, with Justice Tony Hunt remarking that the violent side of O'Hare's personality was not in remission and that his threat to society had ‘not completely abated’.

O'Hare (63), of Slate Rock Road, Newtownhamilton, County Armagh had admitted to assaulting John Roche, causing him harm, at The Towers, Garter Lane, Saggart on June 9th, 2015. 

He had also pleaded guilty to falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne at Rathcoole and Saggart on the same date. The three-judge court was asked to take two counts of falsely imprisoning Mr Byrne’s wife and son into consideration.

He was jailed for three years for assaulting Mr Roche and ten years with three suspended for the rest of his life for falsely imprisoning Mr Byrne. The sentences are running concurrently.

O’Hare has lodged an appeal against sentence to the Court of Appeal, and was today given the date of 14th of December for his hearing.

His barrister, Mark Lynam BL, said that his client wanted to be present on that date.

In 1988, O'Hare was sentenced to 40 years imprisonment for falsely imprisoning and assaulting Dublin dentist Dr John O’Grady, causing him grievous bodily harm, but was released under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement in 2006. 

The former terrorist also has convictions for firearm offences as well as assaulting a garda.