Courts / Dublin / Report

Car thief stole six vehicles from own community within two months

Date
2025-12-18

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

James McMahon, aged 31, of Riversdale Road, Clondalkin, has been sentenced to six years and nine months imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with the final two years suspended. McMahon pleaded guilty to stealing six vehicles from homes in his local community between February and April 2020, along with possession of stolen property including a laptop, e-scooter, car keys and a handbag. He also admitted using a cloned credit card at a Dublin retailer in May 2019. The court heard McMahon employed a bamboo device fitted with magnets to facilitate vehicle thefts and that evidence of the crimes, including photographs and discussions about stolen cars, was recovered from his mobile phone. One stolen vehicle had previously belonged to the Lord Mayor of Dublin. All vehicles were subsequently recovered, though two sustained damage. McMahon has 114 previous convictions for drug dealing and road traffic offences. Judge Sinéad Ní Chulachain imposed strict conditions on the suspended portion of the sentence.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Car thief stole six vehicles from own community within two months. Charges or matters: stealing six cars, as well as possession of stolen property including a laptop and an e-scooter, car keys and a handbag on dates between February and April 2020; using a cloned credit card at a Dublin shop in May 2019. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

April 2020 Incident
May 2019 Incident
February 2020 Incident
February 23, 2020 Incident
March 23, 2020 Incident
2025-12-18 Publication

Case subjects

James McMahon

Defendant

Charges: stealing six cars, as well as possession of stolen property including a laptop and an e-scooter, car keys and a handbag on dates between February and April 2020; using a cloned credit card at a Dublin shop in May 2019 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: It was further accepted that McMahon stole within his local community and that he is "a menace while under the influence." Judge Sinead Ni Chulachain today sentenced McMahon to six years and nine months in prison, but suspended the final two years under strict conditions.