Wayne O'Donoghue gets 4 years!

**Eire06** · 24/01/2006, 12:46 PM

He only has 3 years more to serve..
A disgrace
quote from http://www.breakingnews.ie/2006/01/24/story241324.html

O'Donoghue jailed for four years
24/01/2006 - 13:42:57

A 21-year-old student was today sentenced to four years in jail for the manslaughter of Cork schoolboy Robert Holohan.

Wayne O’Donogue, from Ballyedmond in Midleton, was found guilty last month of unlawfully killing his 11-year-old neighbour.

The youngster disappeared near his home last January.

Eight days later, his body was found dumped 12 miles away following an intensive search of the area.

O’Donoghue had been charged with the murder of Robert Holohan but a jury found him not guilty of that charge, but guilty of manslaughter.

**the 12 th man** · 24/01/2006, 1:25 PM

What was the Judge thinking about?!!!.Way too soft a sentence for a horrible crime.

**beautifulrock** · 24/01/2006, 1:27 PM

Thats shocking, did Robert's mother make a statement to the court or was that just paper talk.

**Eire06** · 24/01/2006, 1:33 PM

Robert Holohan's mother Majella gave evidence today in court!!
She raised a few matters that weren't officially known to the public

Quote from http://www.breakingnews.ie/2006/01/24/story241308.html

Mother raises fresh questions about Holohan killing
24/01/2006 - 13:09:29

Robert Holohan's mother has raised several new questions about the circumstances surrounding the killing of her young son in January of last year.

Majella Holohan made the queries while giving evidence today ahead of the sentencing of the 22-year-old man convicted of killing the 11-year-old near Midleton in Co Cork.

She asked why semen was found on Robert's hand after his body was found last January, why he had been in his killer's bedroom at 7.30am in the morning and why her son made a 999 call later that morning.

Wayne O'Donoghue, a neighbour of the Holohans from Ballyedmond in Midleton, was cleared of murdering the 11-year-old last year, but was convicted of manslaughter and is due to be sentenced later today.

He has admitted killing the schoolboy by grabbing him around the neck after he threw stones at his car, but insists the killing was accidental.

Giving evidence to today's sentencing hearing, Ms Holohan said she had trusted Mr O'Donoghue completely before her son's death.

However, she said he had been cunning and devious in the days between the youngster's disappearance and when his body was found 12 miles away at Inch Strand eight days later.

Mr O'Donoghue actually took part in the search for the missing 11-year-old and rang his telephone in Ms Holohan's presence on the day he killed the boy.

**joeSoap** · 24/01/2006, 1:38 PM

The judge said that he took direction from superior courts to his, and found that with similar cases of manslaughter conviction the sentences were all of around that duration. He felt any other sentence would be successfully appealed at the Court of Appeal.

The statement Mrs Hoolahan made was apparently very moving, and disturbing. She spoke of her love for Robert and of how things never were used as part of the prosecution case such as semen found on Roberts clothes, his mobile phone being wiped clean of prints and images, and why Robert dialled 999 one morning at 7.30 appearently from Wayne O'Donoghues bedroom when he was supposed to be at a sleepover elsewhere.

If these facts are true, then it brings a new twist to the case. And why weren't they used in evidence. If they are not accurate, O'Donoghue is now falsely branded as a paedophile as well as a child killer.

Its all quite tragic really. No winners-all losers.

**Macy** · 24/01/2006, 2:16 PM

Originally Posted by joeSoap

If these facts are true, then it brings a new twist to the case. And why weren't they used in evidence. If they are not accurate, O'Donoghue is now falsely branded as a paedophile as well as a child killer.

This is trial by media now. If the prosecution wasn't confident to present them to the court, they shouldn't be now. Or on any forthcoming Late Late Show appearances.

**joeSoap** · 24/01/2006, 2:33 PM

Originally Posted by Macy

This is trial by media now. If the prosecution wasn't confident to present them to the court, they shouldn't be now. Or on any forthcoming Late Late Show appearances.

Agreed.

**Risteard** · 24/01/2006, 2:36 PM

Originally Posted by joeSoap

If these facts are true, then it brings a new twist to the case. And why weren't they used in evidence. If they are not accurate, O'Donoghue is now falsely branded as a paedophile as well as a child killer.

Spot on. I actually thought he'd be released today and i wouldn't have been too outraged either.
You'd suspect that there's solid reasons why this evidence wasn't admitted (think for a while about both instances, there's easily other explanations and thats if the allegations are true.)
If not, turns the whole case on its head and heads will roll.

**anto1208** · 24/01/2006, 2:39 PM

this is a hard one if it was an acciedent then the sentence is about right it think for his actions in the following days ,

we cant take any of the other evidence that was nt admitted to the trial as fact , there is a reason why it was nt alloud in the trial ,

but if ye think WOD is getting off lightly he isnt he will have to live with this for his whole life , it will follow him no matter where he goes .

also we dont know anything about the kid killed he could have been a nasty little ***** but because he is dead no one will say that , it was in the case that he wanted WOD to take him to mcdonalds when he said no he started throwing stones at his car . this does nt sound like the action of a nice little kid .

**pete** · 24/01/2006, 2:41 PM

Originally Posted by joeSoap

The statement Mrs Hoolahan made was apparently very moving, and disturbing. She spoke of her love for Robert and of how things never were used as part of the prosecution case such as semen found on Roberts clothes, his mobile phone being wiped clean of prints and images, and why Robert dialled 999 one morning at 7.30 appearently from Wayne O'Donoghues bedroom when he was supposed to be at a sleepover elsewhere.

Those issues are just hearsay as were not used as evidence so unfair to use them. I didn't follow the facts of the case in detail so don't know whats fair. Seemed like just an accident...?

**finlma** · 24/01/2006, 2:43 PM

I think its a fair sentence.

If what Mrs. Houlihan said had any credence it would have come up as evidence during the trial.

**Roverstillidie** · 24/01/2006, 4:02 PM

7 years is average for manslaughter, so its a resonable sentence in terms of precedence.

the real scandals here are why the gardai/dpp insisted on a murder prosecution they clearly couldnt win and the horrific reporting in the tabloids around the time of the search, paedophile this and that. all lies.

it was a tragedy and O'Donaghue seems genuinly contrite and his life is in ruins.

**centre mid** · 24/01/2006, 4:37 PM

Brings into view whether victim impact reports should be admisable as evidence, I think in highly emotive cases such as this then quite possibly they should be kept out of the court room, after all should we not be judged solely on hard evidence, i know in some states in the U.S. that victim impact reports are taken into consideration when sentencing

**Anto McC** · 24/01/2006, 5:15 PM

I think it's a fair sentence and Mrs Houlihan had better be careful of what she says on Television,if it's the wrong thing,Wayne O'Donaghue could walk on a technicality(sp?)

**Thunderblaster** · 24/01/2006, 5:58 PM

During the trial, it did emerge about Robert Holohan taking pictures in Wayne Donoghue's bedroom at 7:32 in the morning. Surely that doesn't come across as normal. The semen on the hand story; was there not enough eveidence to produce that at the trial? There are some questions that needs to be answered to put Majella Holohan's mind to rest.

**pete** · 24/01/2006, 6:43 PM

Its hard to know what use a victim impact statement is because we have courts so justice is impartial. No matter the outcome there would be misery on all sides anyway. Interesting to see former Garda get i think 5 years for knocking down pedestrian while drink driving so that could also not be said to be fair...?

**anto1208** · 25/01/2006, 9:36 AM

Originally Posted by Thunderblaster

During the trial, it did emerge about Robert Holohan taking pictures in Wayne Donoghue's bedroom at 7:32 in the morning. Surely that doesn't come across as normal. The semen on the hand story; was there not enough eveidence to produce that at the trial? There are some questions that needs to be answered to put Majella Holohan's mind to rest.

the semen was nt his thats why it was nt in the case ,
how did it get there , as horrible as it sounds it may be as simple as a used jonny in the ditch where the body was left .

even though papers are going with headlines such as ,
"semen was WOD's" says expert then in small writing a second test proved it was nt ,and i have nt seen it yet but aparently the sun have gone with "nothing but a peadophile " !!!!

how in gods name can they do this , this kids life is ruined and now they want to ruin it even further by branding him something he isnt . they wont be happy untill he tops himself . utter scum .

WOD solicitor was on the radio all morning defendeing him and he is taking the sun to court straight away he said .

**the 12 th man** · 25/01/2006, 9:43 AM

I've a Son roughly the age of the deceased.
I tell you if another person killed him for alledgedly throwing stones at their car and got 4 years for it I'd be looking for retribution.

Leave out the "Semen evidence", 4 years is not enough for what he did.

**Macy** · 25/01/2006, 9:45 AM

They have to end victim impact statements - or make them written or in camera after this. How this is acceptable when the evidence isn't there is beyond me?

The media are as bad for the way they're covering it, and RTE should be sanctioned if this is repeated on the rumoured Late Late appearance.

btw Michael Clifford said on the Dunphy this morning that the Gard's have been spreading all this stuff from way back when WOD admitted it. They've also been spreading that he has shown no remorse, which is contary to the courts opinion. Yet more evidence of how corrupt the force is imo - rely on the media to be judge and jury rather than the courts of the state.

**pete** · 25/01/2006, 9:59 AM

I heard that the mother submitted her staement in advance to the courts for approval but then added extra bits to it. Bad form really but sure who would prosecute a grieving mother.