Courts / Dublin / Report
Suspended sentence for man who hijacked car from heavily pregnant woman and hid from gardai for four years
Summary
David Richards, 26, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to unauthorised taking of a car, drink driving, dangerous driving and driving without insurance and a licence on 1 January 2010. He also admitted to threatening a heavily pregnant woman and her husband with a steering wheel lock and to driving the car after it collided with a pole, accelerating to escape Gardaí on icy roads. Judge Patrick McCartan described the offences as an "appalling set of crimes" and imposed an 18‑month suspended sentence, a ten‑year driving ban and an order that €5,000 collected by Richards be paid to the victims. Richards, who had three prior convictions, had hidden from Gardaí for four years after the incident. The court heard that the victim, Susan O'Leary, suffered depression and anxiety as a result of the ordeal.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Suspended sentence for man who hijacked car from heavily pregnant woman and hid from gardai for four years. Charges or matters: the unauthorised taking of a car on Meath Street in Dublin on January 1, 2010. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- January 1, 2010 Incident
- New Year's Day Other
- 2015-05-06 Publication
Why: "The couple ran from the car because they were frightened," said Gda Doherty. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: the unauthorised taking of a car on Meath Street in Dublin on January 1, 2010 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Patrick McCartan remarked that Richards had committed an "appalling set of crimes." He imposed an 18 month suspended sentence and banned Richards from driving for ten years.
Places mentioned
- Basin Lane
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Meath Street
- Dublin
Topics
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