Courts / Dublin / Report

Teen offender who hit 100km/h going wrong way down Dame St is jailed

Date
2024-07-31

Stage
Sentence

Court
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

An 18-year-old man from Rathmullan, County Donegal, has been sentenced to four years imprisonment, with the final year suspended, at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following a dangerous high-speed pursuit through the capital in November 2021. Aaron Donnelly pleaded guilty to two counts of endangerment and one count of unlawful use of a vehicle without consent. During the incident, Donnelly drove a stolen car at speeds exceeding 160km/h whilst evading gardaí, travelling the wrong way down Dame Street at 100km/h and through multiple red lights. The pursuit, which began after gardaí spotted three youths acting suspiciously, saw other road users forced to take evasive action to avoid collision. Judge Martin Nolan placed the offence in the "middle to high" range of endangerment, disqualifying Donnelly from driving for six years. The sentence was backdated to January, with the court noting Donnelly's age at the time of the offence, his cooperation with authorities, and positive progress in custody.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Teen offender who hit 100km/h going wrong way down Dame St is jailed. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

November 30, 2021 Hearing Or Sentence
January 12 Incident
2024-07-31 Publication

Case subjects

Aaron Donnelly

Convicted Person

Outcome: At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Donnelly to four years with the final year suspended and disqualified him from driving for six years. The judge backdated the sentence to January 12 this year, noting Donnelly's young age and the fact that he was doing well in custody.

Dame St

Convicted Person

Outcome: Dame Street at 100km/h while trying to evade pursuing gardai has been jailed for three years.