12 years for burglar who beat farmer (81) in attack at his home
A MAN convicted of involvement in the “horrendous” aggravated burglary, assault and robbery of an 81-year old farmer in rural north county Dublin has been jailed for 12 years.
Adam Marlowe (24) was convicted by a jury after his DNA profile was found on blue latex material – the fingertip of a latex glove – found in the home of the elderly farmer who was beaten in his bedroom by three people wearing balaclavas.
Marlowe, of Walkinstown Drive, Walkinstown, Dublin, had pleaded not guilty to aggravated burglary, robbery of €50 and assaulting Malachy Turley causing him harm at his home on July 29, 2016.
After a four-day trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a jury returned guilty verdicts on all three counts following less than one hour of deliberation.
Marlowe, who has 79 previous convictions, was on bail for two district court offences at the time of the burglary and was also serving the suspended portion of a sentence imposed for violent disorder.
His previous offences included theft, possession of knives, criminal damage, dangerous driving, use of a mobile phone in prison, drugs, road traffic and public order.
Mr Turley outlined in a victim impact statement that he suffered bruising to his legs, torso and arms and a deep cut to his hand which required five stitches. He said he had been “traumatised” for some months and had increased security measures at his home.
Confidence
His confidence and independence had been affected and he was more paranoid and wary of visitors and callers. “I was very lucky in life that everyone I met were good people until I met these three boys,” he said.
Mr Turley’s statement to gardaí was read into evidence during the trial and he did not have to give evidence from the witness box.
Judge Melanie Greally said the case had been contested on a very narrow basis but the jury was satisfied Marlowe was one of the men involved and he was ultimately convicted on the basis of DNA evidence.
She said Mr Turley had been living a solitary existence in an isolated cottage. His victim impact statement showed remarkable stoicism.
Judge Greally said the aggravating aspects in these “horrendous” offences were they were premeditated and pre-planned crimes against an 81-year-old man who was “isolated, vulnerable and defenceless”.
She noted that the men had been armed with weapons of varying degrees with which Mr Turley had been struck and threatened to the point of losing consciousness.
She gave Marlowe credit for the fact he had a challenging upbringing and noted he was now in a relationship and had a child.
The aggravated burglary merited a sentence of 15 years but taking into account the mitigating factors she reduced this to 12 years’ imprisonment.