Courts / Dublin / Report
'Very valuable' tree hit in high speed chase cost €2k to replace, court hears
Summary
Michael McDonagh, aged 30, crashed his partner's car into a tree during a high‑speed Garda pursuit, then fled the scene. His partner reported the vehicle stolen and filed an insurance claim. Gardaí seized McDonagh's and his partner's phones, uncovering messages that McDonagh had driven the car and had asked his partner to falsely state it was stolen. McDonagh pleaded guilty to knowingly making a false statement at Tallaght Garda Station on 3 April 2020 and to attempting to deceive RSA insurance between 3 April and 5 May 2020. He also had a prior drink‑driving conviction that resulted in a four‑year driving ban. At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to two years' imprisonment, fully suspended on strict conditions. The court noted the tree replacement cost was just over €2,000 and that the insurance claim for €7,000 was never paid.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'Very valuable' tree hit in high speed chase cost €2k to replace, court hears. Charges or matters: knowingly making a false statement at Tallaght Garda Station on April 3, 2020; attempting to deceive RSA insurance at RSA House, Dundrum, on dates between April 3 and May 5, 2020. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- April 3, 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
- April 3 Hearing Or Sentence
- May 5, 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
- March 29, 2020 Other
- 2022-01-13 Publication
Why: Garda Vincent Jaffray told Fiona McGowan BL, prosecuting, that on March 29, 2020, he was on patrol in a garda car when he saw McDonagh drive by and turned the patrol car around in order to speak with him. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: knowingly making a false statement at Tallaght Garda Station on April 3, 2020; attempting to deceive RSA insurance at RSA House, Dundrum, on dates between April 3 and May 5, 2020 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Passing sentence today, Judge Martin Nolan said it seems McDonagh decided to evade gardaí for "whatever reason", lost control of the vehicle and crashed into "a very valuable tree". Judge Nolan sentenced McDonagh to two years imprisonment but suspended the sentence in its entirety on strict conditions.
Places mentioned
- Nutgrove Crescent
- Rathfarnham
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- false statement at Tallaght Garda Station
- Tallaght
- RSA House
- Dundrum
- McDonagh drive
Topics
Road Traffic Stage Sentence Theft
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