Courts / Dublin / Report

Teen avoids jail for 'bulldozing' woman with car

Date
2022-11-10

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dundrum

County
Dublin

Summary

Patrick O'Donnell, aged 20, was charged after he accidentally reversed into a woman's car in a Dundrum Town Centre car park. He offered to pay €1,000 for the damage, but the woman refused and tried to stop him from driving away. CCTV showed O'Donnell driving forward slowly, striking her several times before finally hitting her again, causing injuries. He pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and dangerous driving. Judge Melanie Greally, after viewing the footage, noted the woman's attempts to prevent the incident and her pre‑existing depression and anxiety. O'Donnell's early guilty plea, remorse, lack of prior convictions and his age were mitigating factors. He received a two‑year prison sentence suspended in full for assault and a four‑month sentence suspended in full for dangerous driving, plus a four‑year driving ban. The woman was treated for severe bruising and headaches and has initiated a civil claim.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Teen avoids jail for 'bulldozing' woman with car. Charges or matters: assault causing harm to the woman at Dundrum Town Centre, Dublin, on December 15, 2020, and dangerous driving. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

December 15, 2020 Incident
2022-11-10 Publication

Case subjects

Patrick O'Donnell

Defendant

Charges: assault causing harm to the woman at Dundrum Town Centre, Dublin, on December 15, 2020, and dangerous driving (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Judge Greally sentenced O'Donnell to two years in prison which she suspended in full. On the count of dangerous driving, she sentenced him to four months in prison which she suspended in full.