Courts / Dublin / Report
Jail for pair who hijacked skip-hire
Summary
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Gerard McDonnell, aged 27, and Christian Goonery, aged 30, were sentenced for hijacking a skip‑hire truck. McDonnell, who was already serving a seven‑year driving ban, pleaded guilty to stealing a mechanically propelled vehicle, unlawfully seizing the truck, endangerment and two counts of dangerous driving. Goonery pleaded guilty to unlawfully taking the vehicle and being a passenger. Judge Cormac Quinn imposed a five‑year prison term on McDonnell with two years suspended and a ten‑year driving ban. Goonery received four years' imprisonment with the final two years suspended. The court noted the incident was opportunistic, involved a hammer threat, and resulted in the driver sustaining bruises and a knee injury. The defendants' prior convictions and mitigating factors were considered in sentencing.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Jail for pair who hijacked skip-hire. Charges or matters: stealing a mechanically propelled vehicle, on February 6, 2016 at Deansrath Green, Clondalkin; unlawfully seizing the truck as well as endangerment and two counts of dangerous driving; unlawfully taking the vehicle as well as being a passenger in it. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- February 6, 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2018-03-23 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: stealing a mechanically propelled vehicle, on February 6, 2016 at Deansrath Green, Clondalkin; unlawfully seizing the truck as well as endangerment and two counts of dangerous driving; unlawfully taking the vehicle as well as being a passenger in it (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He sentenced Goonery to four years imprisonment and suspended the final two years.
Defendant
Charges: stealing a mechanically propelled vehicle, on February 6, 2016 at Deansrath Green, Clondalkin; unlawfully seizing the truck as well as endangerment and two counts of dangerous driving; unlawfully taking the vehicle as well as being a passenger in it (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Cormac Quinn sentenced McDonnell to five years in prison with two suspended, and banned him from driving for ten years.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Kilmahuddrick Road
- Dublin
- Lindisfarne Avenue
- Cloverhill Road
Topics
Road Traffic Stage Sentence Theft
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