Courts / Dublin / Report

Suspended sentence for man who smashed up four cars

Summary

Shane Fowler, 34, received a suspended two‑year prison sentence after pleading guilty to two counts of criminal damage and unlawful possession of an axe for smashing four cars belonging to an innocent family in Finglas. The incident, which occurred on 31 October 2015, stemmed from a mistaken identity; Fowler had believed the house was that of a local drug dealer who had introduced his ex‑partner to crack cocaine. Gardaí arrested him near the scene, but he was too intoxicated to be interviewed. Judge Terence O'Neill, noting Fowler's significant rehabilitation and genuine remorse, suspended the sentence on the condition that he pay €500 to the victims within three months, in addition to a €500 token of remorse already paid to court. The total damage cost was €7,188. Fowler's prior convictions include dangerous driving, endangerment and car theft, most from 2007. The case was defended by Seamus Clarke BL and prosecuted by Anne Marie Lawlor BL.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Suspended sentence for man who smashed up four cars. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• October 31, 2015 Incident
• 2016-12-22 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Road Traffic Stage Sentence Theft

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Read the original CNI report