Limerick siblings lured a man into a car for a 'targeted' attack with 'no escape' for him

A MAN who has been jailed for assault causing harm and possession of drugs for sale or supply, with his sister as the co-accused, originally fled to the UK after pleading guilty. 

On January 6, 2023, Amanda O’Sullivan (24) with an address at Cois Deel in Rathkeale, drove into Croom village where the victim was sitting on a stone wall after he had ordered food at around 3.45pm in the afternoon.

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Her brother James was in the car with her. 

The victim was lured to the car, where he was then assaulted by James O’Sullivan (26) of Hazel Avenue, Dromcollogher.

The victim later made a positive identification of Mr O'Sullivan from a Facebook profile. 

The siblings appeared before Judge Colin Daly at Limerick Circuit Court sitting in Newcastle West courthouse. 

Mr O’Sullivan has been jailed for four and a half years, with the final six months suspended, while his sister Ms O’Sullivan was given a one-year sentence suspended for one year.  

They both pleaded guilty to all charges, although the court heard that a bench warrant had to be executed for Mr O’Sullivan who left the jurisdiction and worked in the UK. 

James O’Sullivan on October 6, 2022, pleaded guilty to count one, of possession of €11,300 worth of MDMA, cocaine with a value of €175 and ketamine valued at €40, with intent to sell or supply the drugs to other people. 

Judge Colin Daly described the drugs as being “significant” and it “was not an amount that would simply be shared with friends.” 

He said that he considered the drugs offence to be in the mid range putting a headline sentence of five years on the offence. 

The court heard that Mr O’Sullivan absconded and left the jurisdiction for the UK after pleading guilty to the charge. 

Judge Daly said: “It’s ironic that if he had stayed in the jurisdiction, he would now most likely have served his sentence.”

He said that Mr O’Sullivan got “involved in foolish behaviours.”

In relation to the charge of assault causing harm, the court heard that Mr O’Sullivan recorded himself hitting the victim and that the assault “went on over some period of time” before the victim was released from the car and walked back to Croom. 

The assault was described as a “targeted” one by Judge Colin Daly. 

The car was also taken to be valeted after the assault. 

When the car was seized, blood samples matching the victim’s DNA were found. 

The victim declined to give a victim impact statement.

Judge Daly said: “The assault was designed to ensure that the victim could not escape.”

He added that the fact that Mr O’Sullivan had involved his younger sister was a further aggravating factor. 

The judge acknowledged that while the victim’s injuries were relatively minor, Mr O’Sullivan’s culpability was high and he was the “principal offender.”

Barrister for Amanda O’Sullivan, Amy Nix BL, told the court that her client was just 21-years-old at the time of the offence. 

“She got involved in something she had nothing to do with,” Ms Nix told the court. 

“She has had a good life before and since the event,” said Ms Nix, who added that her client has no previous convictions. 

She asked Judge Colin Daly sitting in Newcastle West courthouse to consider her client’s past behaviour as an indicator of future behaviour. 

The court heard that the now 24-year-old lives with her mother and younger brother and has strong family support and is working. 

Ms O'Sullivan  engaged with the probation services who found that she was at low risk of further reoffending. 

“She accepts that she made poor decisions on the day that were nothing to do with her,” Ms Nix said. 

A letter of apology was handed into court for the victim, who suffered soft tissue damage injuries during the assault. 

“She is truly sorry and knows her actions were wrong and shameful,” Ms Nix added. 

The siblings put forward a combined compensation cash amount of €1,000. 

Judge Daly sentenced James  O’Sullivan, who was already in custody, to a total of four-and-a -half years in prison, with the final six months suspended.

The custodial sentence was backdated to when he first went into custody, subject to his own bond of €100 and that he keep the peace and be under the supervision of the probation services for 12 months after his release from prison. 

Judge Daly sentenced Amanda O'Sullivan  to one year in prison, but this was fully suspended for one year, and she agreed to her own bond of €100 to keep the peace and be of good behaviour.