Courts / Dublin / Report

Car thief went on drug binge after being told he was to become a father

Summary

Sean Dowdall, aged 23, was sentenced to 13 months in prison for stealing a taxi driver's car after a drug and alcohol binge. He claimed a woman, with whom he was not closely acquainted, had told him she was pregnant and that he was the father. Dowdall denied this later, stating he was not the father. He had stolen two cars over two days, the first being a taxi that crashed into a lamp post after he drove off while intoxicated. He had previously pleaded guilty to stealing a car from a petrol station on Tir Chonaill Road on 12 February 2016, and had 57 prior convictions, including assault, theft and car theft. The court noted he had 57 previous convictions and that the stolen car was written off due to damage. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the 13‑month sentence. The prosecution, represented by Pieter LeVert BL, described the circumstances of the theft and the subsequent crash.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Car thief went on drug binge after being told he was to become a father. Charges or matters: stealing a car from a petrol station on Tir Chonaill Road, Inchicore, Dublin on February 12, 2016; stealing a car from a petrol station in Dublin on the day before this offence and Judge Nolan imposed a sentence of two and a half years imprisonment; theft and false imprisonment. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• February 12, 2016 Incident
• 2017-11-16 Publication

Why: The court heard the insurance company did not compensate Mr Gannon for the car because he had left the keys in the car. Court evidence reported by CNI

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Sentence Theft Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report