Courts / Dublin / Report

Serial thief busted after stealing rental car

Date
2018-12-20

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin City

County
Dublin

Summary

Alan McDonagh, 33, was caught driving a stolen Europcar that had a tracking device. He pleaded guilty to burglary and unauthorised taking of a car on Camden Street Upper on 8 September 2017 and to robbing a young woman of her purse at Stephen's Green East on 3 November 2017. The court noted he became addicted to heroin at 16, has spent over half his life in custody, and has 173 previous convictions, 13 for Circuit Court offences. He is on bail for other offences. The court adjourned sentencing to 7 February to allow him to finish methadone treatment. He has requested to serve his sentence at Midlands prison to stay near family and avoid influences at Mountjoy. He has written apology letters to both victims. The sentencing will occur on 7 February.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Serial thief busted after stealing rental car. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

September 8, 2017 Adjournment
November 3, 2017 Adjournment
February 7 Hearing Or Sentence
2018-12-20 Publication

Why: The court heard that McDonagh requested to serve his sentence at the Midlands prison, in order to be near his family and to be away from certain influences in Mountjoy. Court evidence reported by CNI

Case subjects

Unnamed accused

Convicted Person

Outcome: A serial thief will be sentenced later after he stole a rental car which, unbeknownst to himself, had been fitted with a tracking device. He is to be sentenced on February 7 next.; Judge Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing until next February to allow McDonagh time to come fully off methadone.