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Mum-of-four reversed stolen Merc into pub smoking area as man held on

Summary

Helen Hourigan, aged 34, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for stealing a Mercedes‑Benz and causing criminal damage to Ross Kelly's Volkswagen Beetle. On 9 January 2015, she stole the Mercedes when its owner left it unlocked and drove it at speed into Mr Kelly's vehicle, then reversed it into the smoking area of the Dropping Well Pub in Milltown, Dublin. She smashed a glass partition and pinned Mr Kelly against a wall before driving off. Mr Kelly was injured and taken to hospital. Hourigan pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Martin Nolan suspended the final year of her sentence, citing her dangerous driving and the injuries sustained by Mr Kelly and his wife, and noted that she had taken steps to address her addiction. She is due for release in August.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Mum-of-four reversed stolen Merc into pub smoking area as man held on. Charges or matters: stealing a Mercedes-Benz at City Hall and criminal damage of Mr Kelly's Volkswagen Beetle on January 9, 2015. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• January 9, 2015 Other
• 2017-03-27 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Road Traffic Stage Sentence Theft

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Read the original CNI report