Courts / Dublin / Report

Garda attacked and dragged by getaway driver

Date
2020-05-19

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In a 2019 burglary at a Dublin home, Laurence Connors (28) was caught driving a stolen Audi while four accomplices looted cash and jewellery. Garda Ronan Doyle and Garda Declan Crowley confronted Connors, who drove past the patrol car and then stopped to let the burglars board. Crowley attempted to stop him, but Connors accelerated, dragging Crowley 40 metres and crashing into a parked Fiat Punto. Crowley was injured, requiring stitches, while the Fiat owner was unharmed. Connors was arrested, pleaded guilty to trespass, possession of a stolen car, assaulting a garda and criminal damage, and was sentenced to 20 months in prison, to run consecutively with a 10‑year term for a prior burglary. He has 37 prior convictions and is due for release in 2025. The case highlighted the physical harm to the garda and the financial loss to the homeowner.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Garda attacked and dragged by getaway driver. Charges or matters: trespass, possession of a stolen car, assaulting a garda and criminal damage to the Fiat Punto on Lyons Street, Newcastle, Dublin on July 18, 2019. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

July 18, 2019 Incident
2020-05-19 Publication

Case subjects

Laurence Connors

Defendant

Charges: trespass, possession of a stolen car, assaulting a garda and criminal damage to the Fiat Punto on Lyons Street, Newcastle, Dublin on July 18, 2019 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: He sentenced him to 20 months in prison which he said should be consecutive to the term he is currently serving.