Courts / Dublin / Report

Car thief who rammed gardai to be sentenced 23 years after offences

Date
2026-07-09
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

A man will be sentenced later this year for stealing a car and using it to ram a garda vehicle 23 years ago. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Barry Lysaght (46), formerly of Charleville, Co Cork, pleaded guilty to one count of reckless endangerment and one count of the unauthorised taking of a car at a location near the South Circular Road on March 16, 2003. The court heard that Lysaght has been living in the UK for most of the past 23 years. Garda Damien Coleman told Aideen Collard, BL, prosecuting, that on the day in question, he was on patrol with now-retired Garda Michael Kiely at 12.16am when they saw a car being driven in an unusual manner on Parnell Road. The gardai activated the patrol car's blue lights and the car, driven by Lysaght, mounted the footpath, coming to a stop before accelerating and driving off. The car continued through red lights and narrowly avoided colliding with an oncoming taxi.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Car thief who rammed gardai to be sentenced 23 years after offences. Charges or matters: one count of reckless endangerment and one count of the unauthorised taking of a car at a location near the South Circular Road on March 16, 2003. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

Case subjects

Barry Lysaght

Defendant

Charges: one count of reckless endangerment and one count of the unauthorised taking of a car at a location near the South Circular Road on March 16, 2003 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Lysaght will be sentenced on October 29 next.; Judge Martina Baxter adjourned the case for finalisation in order for a Governor's report and urine analysis to be carried out.

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • Dublin
  • Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Address Area
  • South Circular Road
  • Parnell Road
  • Crumlin Road
Journey Or Route
  • South Circular Road
Secondary Mention
Facility

Topics

Stage Sentence Theft

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