Courts / Dublin / Report
Former addict endangered three generations of same family in crime spree
Summary
Sean O'Kelly, aged 24, admitted to endangering three generations of a family when he set two cars on fire in their driveway, forcing an 80‑year‑old woman, her granddaughter and a ten‑week‑old great‑grandson to seek refuge in the back garden. The heat from the blazing cars melted the front door shut, and the family feared they would have to choose between saving the infant or the grandmother if the house caught fire. O'Kelly also vandalised six other cars and stole items from them on the same night. He pleaded guilty to one count of endangerment, one count of robbery, two counts of burglary and six counts of criminal damage. Separately, he admitted arson of two cars in an underground carpark, causing an estimated €90,000 of damage, for which an insurance settlement of over €76,000 was later made. The court noted O'Kelly's 24 previous convictions, his rehabilitation from drug addiction, and his apology letters.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Former addict endangered three generations of same family in crime spree. Charges or matters: one count of endangerment at Gateway Avenue, Ballymun, on June 24, 2016, one count of robbery at nearby Sillogue Gardens, two counts of burglary and six counts of criminal damage, all in the same neighbourhood and on the same night. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- June 24, 2016 Incident
- February 10, 2017 Incident
- 2018-12-14 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: one count of endangerment at Gateway Avenue, Ballymun, on June 24, 2016, one count of robbery at nearby Sillogue Gardens, two counts of burglary and six counts of criminal damage, all in the same neighbourhood and on the same night (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: She pointed out that the three family members in the first offence were unable to get out of their house. "If the fire had spread, the consequences could have been absolutely catastrophic," she said at the sentence hearing today.; She adjourned sentencing for updated urinalysis, saying the court had to consider how best to build on O'Kelly's progress and yet punish him for extremely serious offences.
Places mentioned
- Hampton Wood Crescent
- St Margaret's Road
- Dublin
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Gateway Avenue
- St Margaret's Road
- Ballymun
- Sillogue Gardens
Topics
Burglary Drugs Stage Sentence Theft
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