International boxer Michael O’Reilly has been given a five-month prison sentence after admitting causing criminal damage to a caravan following an engagement party last year.
The sentence was imposed on O’Reilly (24) from Mountrath, Co Laois at Thurles District Court on Tuesday but he was not sent to jail pending an appeal to the circuit court.
His father Michael O’Reilly snr (45) of Portlaoise was given a three-month prison term for causing criminal damage during the same incident on April 18th, 2016. He also gave notice of an appeal.
A brother James O’Reilly (18) of Portlaoise was bound to keep the peace for a year, while a bench warrant was issued for another brother, Bernard (24), who also admitted criminal damage but has left the jurisdiction for the UK since evidence was heard last June.
Father of three Michael O’Reilly was due to fight for Ireland in the Rio Olympics last year but was sent home on the eve of the games when it was confirmed he had failed a drugs test before leaving Ireland for the event.
After Tuesday’s court proceedings he confirmed he was appealing the prison sentence imposed on him by Judge Elizabeth MacGrath.
The boxer pleaded guilty in June to a single count of causing criminal damage to a caravan on April 18th, 2016.
The case was adjourned on that occasion to allow the defendants bring compensation to court. Michael O’Reilly snr brought €150 and JJ Fitzgerald, solicitor for Michael O’Reilly jnr, said his client had brought €100. Judge MacGrath said the amount of compensation offered by the defendants was “totally inadequate” and “totally unacceptable”.
She said she had given the parties a way to avoid a custodial sentence “by dealing with it in a particular way”, but this had not happened.