FORMER INLA man Dessie O'Hare - known as `The Border Fox' has been jailed for seven years for evicting a family from their home and leading a "disturbingly violent" attack on another man.
Special Criminal Court judge Mr Justice Tony Hunt said the violent side of O'Hare's personality was "a source of continuing concern" and a threat to society had "not completely abated".
O'Hare (62), of Slate Rock Road, Newtownhamilton in Armagh, admitted last January to assaulting John Roche, causing him harm, at The Towers, Garter Lane, Saggart, Co Dublin on June 9, 2015.
He was one of a gang of seven involved in an attack on Mr Roche, which included convicted murderer and former INLA member Declan Duffy.
O'Hare also pleaded guilty to falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne at Rathcoole and Saggart on the same date.
The Dublin court heard that Mr Byrne pleaded with O'Hare to be given time to leave his home voluntarily, but was told to "get out right now".
O'Hare had previously been sentenced to 40 years for kidnapping Dublin dentist John O'Grady in 1987 and cutting off parts of his fingers with a chisel when a ransom was not paid. O'Hare escaped before being recaptured after being injured in a shoot-out in Co Kilkenny.
He was freed in 2006 under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.
He was jailed today for 10 years with three suspended on a bond to be of good behaviour for the rest of his life.
Passing sentence, Mr Justice Hunt said that Mr Roche was subjected to a "disturbingly violent assault" in which he was kicked in the head and body.
The judge said O'Hare's previous convictions were aggravating factors in the case.
He added that the damage done to the Byrne family was "significant, ongoing and permanent" and they were now in the Witness Protection Programme.
The judge said it appeared that O'Hare's previous lengthy spell of incarceration had been difficult for him, and he also had enduring health difficulties. However, these were consequences from having previously committed "an appalling and violent offence", he said.
"The only sense in which we regard these difficulties as relevant is that the serving of a further sentence would undoubtedly be more onerous," said Mr Justice Hunt.
The judge emphasised that O'Hare was "an organiser and high-level participant" in the incident and said that the court did not accept that the offending was "isolated" even though he had applied himself positively to some aspects of his life in the last 13 years.
Following sentencing, O’Hare entered a bond to be of good behaviour and keep the peace for the rest of his life. He gave little reaction before he was led away by prison officers.
