Courts / Dublin / Report

Dublin man sent back to jail for stealing taxi after losing appeal

Date
2015-03-02

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Aaron McCarthy, 22, of Crinan Strand, Dublin 1, was convicted of robbery and taking a vehicle without authority after punching a taxi driver and stealing his taxi, mobile phone and bank cards on 13 August 2011. He also admitted stealing a bicycle that day. A jury at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court found him guilty and sentenced him to five years' imprisonment. McCarthy had been on bail pending an appeal. On 2 March 2015, the Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal on two grounds: the trial judge's handling of a Garda's evidence and a reference to a possible Garda career risk if McCarthy had been acquitted. The judges – Alan Mahon, George Birmingham and Garrett Sheehan – upheld the conviction and McCarthy was returned to prison to serve the remainder of his sentence. He has not yet appealed the sentence's severity. Aaron McCarthy pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Dublin man sent back to jail for stealing taxi after losing appeal. Charges or matters: robbery and taking a vehicle without authority at Lisburn Street in the capital on August 13 2011. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Found guilty

When:

August 13 2011 Hearing Or Sentence
2015-03-02 Publication

Why: He had appealed his conviction on two grounds: the manner in which the trial judge dealt with a garda's evidence in his charge to the jury and reference to the possibility that McCarthy may have lied during garda interviews about his reason for being out after 2am. CNI source report

Case subjects

Aaron McCarthy

Appellant

Charges: robbery and taking a vehicle without authority at Lisburn Street in the capital on August 13 2011 (Proven)

Plea: Not guilty

Finding: Found guilty

Outcome: Found guilty; He was found guilty by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and subsequently sentenced to five years imprisonment. McCarthy was returned to prison where he will serve out the remainder of his sentence.