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'Completely bizarre': crack addict attempted multiple thefts while holding chihuahua
Summary
A man has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison following a series of attempted car thefts in a Dublin housing estate while under the influence of crack cocaine. Thomas Cahill Donohue, aged 35, pleaded guilty to twelve charges including burglary, attempted robbery, criminal damage, unlawful use of a vehicle, threatening behaviour and assault on gardaí at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. On 25 October 2019, Donohue approached multiple residents in the Whitethorn Walk estate in Lusk, making threats and attempting to take their vehicles while holding his pet chihuahua. Residents reported that he made violent threats towards them. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the sentence on Thursday, noting that whilst Donohue expressed a desire to reform and seek drug treatment, the seriousness of his conduct and the trauma caused to civilians and gardaí necessitated custodial punishment. The judge stated that substance abuse was no defence. The sentence was backdated to 1 January last.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'Completely bizarre': crack addict attempted multiple thefts while holding chihuahua. Charges or matters: 12 charges including burglary, attempted robbery, criminal damage of a car, unlawful use of a car, threatening to injure a number of people and assaulting a garda. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- October 25, 2019 Incident
- January 1 Incident
- 2020-07-10 Publication
Why: On the way to Lusk he became suspicious that something untoward was happening because the car was only three years old. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: 12 charges including burglary, attempted robbery, criminal damage of a car, unlawful use of a car, threatening to injure a number of people and assaulting a garda (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: At a sentence hearing on Thursday, Judge Martin Nolan noted that Donohue wanted to reform himself and was attempting to do so. However, he said his misbehaviour was too serious to avoid prison, and imposed a sentence of three and a half years, backdated to January 1 last.
Places mentioned
- Lusk
- Dublin
- Whitethorn Walk estate
- Monaghan
- Dublin city
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Sheepmore Gardens
- Blanchardstown
- Lusk
Topics
Burglary Drugs Stage Sentence Theft Violent Crime
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