Courts / Dublin / Report

Garda pinned between stolen vehicle and patrol car, attacked during arrest

Date
2023-04-28

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin City

County
Dublin

Summary

Trevor Brown, 40, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for offences committed on May 7, 2022. Brown pleaded guilty to creating a serious risk of harm by driving dangerously at Meakstown Cottages, Finglas, two charges of assaulting a police officer, and one charge of stealing a car at Fassaugh Avenue, Cabra West. The court heard that Brown reversed a stolen vehicle at speed, pinning Garda David Lewis's leg between the vehicles, before resisting arrest and assaulting Garda Lewis and Garda Louise Moran. Both officers sustained injuries and were certified unfit for duty. Judge Patricia Ryan noted Brown's 165 previous convictions, including 58 for theft and 41 under the Road Traffic Act. While acknowledging mitigating factors such as his guilty plea, time in custody, and engagement in drug treatment, the judge rejected Brown's claim that he was reversing slowly. Judge Ryan sentenced Brown to two and a half years for the unlawful taking of a car and five years for the assault on a police officer. The final year of the assault sentence was suspended under strict conditions. Both sentences run concurrently and are backdated from the date he went into custody.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Garda pinned between stolen vehicle and patrol car, attacked during arrest. Charges or matters: creating a serious risk of harm by driving dangerously at Meakstown Cottages, Finglas on May 7, 2022; two charges of assaulting a police officer and one charge of stealing a car at Fassaugh Avenue, Cabra West on May 7, 2022. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

May 7, 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
2023-04-28 Publication

Case subjects

Trevor Brown

Defendant

Charges: creating a serious risk of harm by driving dangerously at Meakstown Cottages, Finglas on May 7, 2022; two charges of assaulting a police officer and one charge of stealing a car at Fassaugh Avenue, Cabra West on May 7, 2022 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Judge Ryan sentenced Brown to two and a half years for the unlawful taking of a car and five years for the assault on a police officer, with the final year suspended under strict conditions.