Man jailed for torture of woman punished for posting video of himself in prison

Irish Daily Mirror

2 days ago

This thug has been disciplined after he posted a video online of himself in prison – while awaiting sentencing for the torture and false imprisonment of a woman.
The Irish Mirror can reveal Sean Conroy – described by a judge as a 'main mover' in the shocking attack by a gang on defenceless Natalie Ennis – posted a bizarre clip from inside Dublin's Mountjoy Prison three weeks ago.
That was after he had pleaded guilty to the assault in central Dublin last September– for which he was handed a 12-year sentence on Wednesday.
The Dubliner posted the video on social media around July 9 after filming it on a mobile phone.
That's despite it being a criminal offence for a prisoner to use a device behind bars. The video shows what appears to be a large amount of cannabis
In the video, Conroy, 21, of Sillogue Road, Ballymun, North Dublin, films himself making a bacon and sausage bap on a grill – and tells his online audience 'Work hard, stay humble'.
He pans the camera to a TV showing GAA and then to the door of his cell – which he opens to show a prison landing.
Dopey Conroy even added a cell-block selfie to the video – with the subtitle 'Mountjoy Prison'.
The video also shows what appears to be a large amount of cannabis.
And at one stage, Conroy films himself smoking a hand-rolled cigarette while he and a cellmate watch a game in the FIFA Club World Cup competition, which was held in the United States.
But prison bosses soon became aware of the footage – and promptly raided his cell.
It's understood officers seized a number of items, including a phone and SIM card. Conroy's fry-up
He was then hit with a so-called P19, a prison disciplinary notice that usually means a loss of privileges.
A spokesman for the Irish Prison Service would not discuss Conroy's case with the Irish Sunday Mirror.
He said: 'The Irish Prison Service does not comment on matters relating to the operations or security of our prisons.'
Conroy was one of five men caged on Wednesday for the attack on Ms Ennis, which shocked the nation when details emerged at their sentencing hearing.
They beat, tortured and held her captive for three hours in a Dublin flat over a false accusation about missing drugs. Ms Ennis was beaten to the head and body with metal pole, burned with a makeshift blowtorch and a heated hammer head. She was also cut with a knife, kicked and punched, had her hair cut off and was threatened with rape.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard the men took running jumps at her during the assault in a one-bedroom flat at Henrietta House, Dublin 7.
They threatened to make her drink ammonia and also threatened to rape her teenage daughter. Natalie Ennis was abducted and tortured because of a row over missing drugs which she knew nothing about. Five men who beat, burned, stabbed and tortured a woman for three hours in a Dublin flat last year have been jailed for between eight-and-a-half and 14 years (Image: Collins Courts)
Prosecutor Caroline Cummings told an earlier sentence hearing that Ms Ennis was terrified throughout the horrific thought she was going to die.
The assault only ended when gardai entered the flat with a search warrant, the court heard.
Five of the eight men present that day entered guilty pleas, while another man and a juvenile are still before the courts. The eighth person is not before the courts.
Conroy, along with Mark Keogh, 33, Mark McMahon, 55, and Braxton Rice, 21, all of Henrietta House, Henrietta Place, Dublin 7, and Kian Walshe, 22, of Constitution Hill, Dublin 7, all pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and assault causing harm Ms Ennis at Henrietta House.
A number of other counts against each man relating to the production of articles in the course of an offence, were taken into consideration.
Judge Pauline Codd commended the gardai for their intervention, the thoroughness of their investigation and the empathy shown to Ms Ennis.
She also noted but for the intervention of the gardai, the men could be facing more serious charges. Braxton Rice
Judge Codd said the harm caused to Ms Ennis was the 'most serious type' within the range of the charge of assault causing harm.
She added Rice was the 'main ringleader' who acted as 'inquisitor' in relation to the missing drugs, made 'vicious threats' and heated implements which were used to burn the victim.
She said Rice's level of culpability was within the 'exceptional level' for the offence of false imprisonment, and he used 'sadistic torture and threats' against the 'defenceless woman'.
Judge Codd handed Rice a sentence of 15 years, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions.
She said Conroy was 'centrally involved' and imposed a sentence of 13 years, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions.
Handing down McMahon a sentence of 12 years, Judge Codd noted he allowed his flat to be used, 'facilitated and actively took part' in the offending, but was not the 'main mover'.
She noted he expressed shame that he was involved in an offence involving violence against women.
McMahon's son, Keogh, was jailed for nine years for his involvement in the brutal assault. Mark Keogh
Judge Codd said Walshe's car was used to transport the victim to the flat and that he shared a recording of the attack, which demonstrated a 'lack of empathy and moral compass'.
She handed him a sentence of 11 years with the final two-and-a-half years suspended on strict conditions .
Conroy has 89 previous convictions including drug dealing and possession, burglary and possession of knives.
Speaking to RTE Radio One on Thursday, Ms Ennis recounted the full horror of the attack.
She said: 'They were coming behind the doors and whacking me with steel poles, batons, hatchets. I got a hatchet into the head as well. Then they were coming at speed, running, doing flying kicks and hitting me.
The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week
'That's how I lost my teeth. I've a good few missing teeth.
'They were standing on my face as well while they got me on the floor, standing all over my body.
'I had to get a disc removed from my back and all and some of my spine bone carved, and then I had a blow out elbow as well from blocking myself.
'They were just hitting me with steel poles and heated poles.
'I'm physically and mentally not normal anymore. They ruined my life basically.'
Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.