THREE MEN who viciously assaulted an elderly couple at their home in Clondra, Co Longford, last December were yesterday sentenced to 34 years in prison between them for trespass and aggravated burglary.
Anthony Flannery (24), Lourdes Road, Dublin 8, appeared before Longford Circuit Court and pleaded guilty to trespassing at the home of Heinz Sperath and Mary Sperath at Fisherstown, Clondra, Co Longford, on December 12th last. He was further charged with stealing cash from the house and of having in his possession a tazer stun gun on the date in question.
Kristian Wren (32), Ballyfermot Drive, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10, also appeared before Judge Anthony Kennedy and pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, assaulting Mr Sperath (66) and causing him harm; assaulting Mrs Sperath (72) and causing her harm; and of carrying an imitation firearm at the couple’s home on December 12 last.
His brother James Wren (37), Ballyfermot Drive, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10, also pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary at the home of the elderly couple and of using a tazer stun gun on the same date.
The men were sentenced to 10, 12 and 12 years in prison respectively. Judge Kennedy suspended two years in each sentence.
The judge remarked: “This aggravated burglary is as lawless and vicious as I have seen in over 40 years dealing with criminal behaviour.”
Desmond Dockery, for the State, told the court the three defendants had entered the home of the elderly couple armed with an imitation firearm, tazer gun, hurley and knives. and were wearing balaclavas.
The Speraths were then subjected to a vicious assault where they were cut, beaten, threatened with death, gagged and a tazer gun used on them. They were later bound and gagged with plastic and duct tape and locked in their bathroom.
When gardaí arrived in an unmarked patrol car, Anthony Flannery, believing it to be a pick-up car, attempted to jump into the back seat and was subsequently arrested, the court heard. Theother defendants ran into the fields behind the house and when gardaí caught up with them, they said they were looking for horses.
Medical evidence provided to the court indicated that Mary Sperath had bruises on her legs, arms and back when she was admitted to hospital on the night in question and that she had acute stress as a result of the assault.
Mr Sperath had a laceration on an index finger and bruising to his body. Both reports highlighted that the Speraths had been severely traumatised and that “recovery will be slow and long, if ever”.
In his victim impact statement Heinz Sperath said that he and his wife had difficulty sleeping since the events.
“Mary cannot sleep or function and she feels her home is dirty,” said Mr Sperath.
“We came to Ireland for peace and tranquillity and this has been totally destroyed.”