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Matthews decided it was a very serious case and sent him to prison for four years with the sentence to be reviewed in two years.
Philip Sheedy appeared in court on 11 June 1997 before Judge Cyril Kelly (pictured left). It was a straight forward court hearing at which Philip Sheedy pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death, and driving with an excess of alcohol in his blood. Judge Kelly adjourned the matter for sentence until October 20th and ordered medical and probation and welfare reports.On the day of sentencing Cyril Kelly asked Judge Matthews to take the case. According to Matthews, Cyril Kelly suggested to him a suspended sentence would be appropriate in this case as Sheedy was from a good family and had no previous convictions. Matthews decided it was a very serious case and sent him to prison for four years with the sentence to be reviewed in two years.
Very often a sentence (the punishment for your crime) takes place after the court case. The judge may decide he/she needs time to consider the case more carefully and view psychological and victim impact reports.
The sentence review in this case meant that half-way through his sentence Sheedy will go back to court in front of the judge who sentenced him. The judge will consider certain points like good behaviour in prison, psychological reports and other relevant matters and decide whether the sentence should be reduced or stay in place.
A suspended sentence is one where you do not have to go to prison as long as you do not break the law during the sentence. Philip Sheedy went to jail. He was first sent to the training unit in Mountjoy before being transferred to the open prison in Shelton Abbey outside Arklow.
Shortly after the sentence Sheedy's solicitor applied to Judge Matthews to set aside the review date to which Matthews agreed. Sheedy felt he had a good chance of getting early release. He would not get early release if a sentence review was due in two years time.
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