A three-year sentence imposed on two men for "violent and despicable" handbag robberies from elderly women, including a 67-year-old nun, has been doubled to six years in both their cases.
The Court of Criminal Appeal yesterday upheld arguments by the DPP that the original three-year sentences on each of the men were unduly lenient and doubled both of their sentences.
Robert Shevlin (27) Champions Avenue, Dublin, and John Swan (29) Spencer Dock, Dublin, were convicted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in May last year on robbery charges.
In opposing the DPP's bid to have the sentences increased, the men's counsel argued that both were chronic heroin addicts and had pleaded guilty.
However, granting the DPP's appeal, Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns, presiding at the Court of Criminal Appeal and sitting with Mr Justice Declan Budd and Mr Justice Diarmuid O'Donovan, said the court agreed that the sentences imposed at the Circuit Criminal Court were excessively lenient.
Mr Justice Kearns said the offences involved were particularly nasty, violent and despicable.
The men were cowardly and vicious, and had targeted women, one of whom was a nun who had sustained serious injuries. This was not an isolated offence as there had been numerous victims.
The judge noted that Shevlin had 25 previous convictions, while Swan had 50.
He said it was the violent aspect of the offences that had caused the court great concern.