Courts / Dublin / Report

Dumbrell loses appeal over city-centre car chase sentence

Date
2016-07-28

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Temple Bar

County
Dublin

Summary

Leonard Dumbrell, 28, of Clonattin Village, Gorey, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment and a five‑year driving disqualification for car theft and two counts of dangerous driving in Dublin City Centre. The sentence was imposed by Judge Mary Ellen Ring on 30 July 2015. Dumbrell's appeal was dismissed by Mr Justice Alan Mahon on 28 July 2016. Mahon noted that Dumbrell had entered a car with the engine running, left the owner, and then drove away. A Garda chased him, and Dumbrell broke a red light, made illegal turns, weaved through traffic, mounted a pedestrian median on O'Connell Bridge, and crashed in Temple Bar. He had 108 previous convictions and was arrested a short distance away. Mahon found the three‑year term not "lenient" given his record and that the sentencing judge had considered rehabilitation. The appeal was therefore dismissed. Leonard Dumbrell pleaded guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Dumbrell loses appeal over city-centre car chase sentence. Charges or matters: car theft and two counts of dangerous driving in Dublin City Centre on January 2, 2013. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

January 2, 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
July 30, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
June 2014 Adjournment
2016-07-28 Publication

Case subjects

Leonard Dumbrell

Appellant

Charges: car theft and two counts of dangerous driving in Dublin City Centre on January 2, 2013 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: He was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three years imprisonment and disqualified from driving for five years by Judge Mary Ellen Ring on July 30, 2015. Dismissing Dumbrell's appeal against sentence today, Mr Justice Alan Mahon said Dumbrell had gotten into a car and drove away after the owner had left his vehicle with the engine running.; When he pleaded guilty, sentencing was adjourned for a month and later adjourned again.