Courts / Tipperary / Report

Addict hijacked car outside creche

Date
2021-06-08

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Tipperary

Summary

Thomas McDonnell, aged 43, was convicted of hijacking a car on 4 January 2019 at Belgard Square, Tallaght. While in a drug‑induced psychosis, he threw himself over the bonnet of a vehicle whose driver had just dropped his daughter at a creche, demanded the driver exit or he would kill him, and then fled after the car could only travel a short distance. The driver, who had the key, was forced to stop and was later unharmed, though his wife, who was pregnant, was physically ill during the incident. McDonnell had been released from Tallaght Hospital the night before for mental health issues and had recently had a dispute with his girlfriend. He had six prior drug‑related convictions. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to four years, suspending the final 18 months under conditions, after noting the incident was short‑lived and the car was returned undamaged. Thomas McDonnell pleaded guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Addict hijacked car outside creche. Charges or matters: one count of hijacking at Belgard Square, Tallaght on January 4, 2019. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

January 4, 2019 Incident
2021-06-08 Publication

Why: Because the driver had the car key in his possession, the car was only able to go a short distance before it stopped and McDonnell fled the scene, Garda Stephen O'Shea told the court. CNI source report

Case subjects

Thomas McDonnell

Defendant

Charges: one count of hijacking at Belgard Square, Tallaght on January 4, 2019 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: In a victim impact statement handed into court, the victim, who was not present for the sentence hearing, said he had just dropped his daughter off at creche and driven 100 yards up the road when McDonnell flagged him down, causing him to brake suddenly. Handing down sentence, Judge Melanie Greally said McDonnell was "in a drug induced psychosis" at the time. "He wanted a car to drive to Tipperary and he terrorised this person who had just dropped their child off at creche and whose wife was pregnant".