Fisherman (28) who hijacked car with imitation gun avoids jail

By Francis Carroll, The Drogheda Independent

A 28-year-old man who hijacked a car with the use of an imitation firearm has received a fully suspended sentence.

Dylan Conway seized the vehicle from a lone female while she waited for a taxi after a night out.

The defendant, who lived at Simon Community, Barrack Street, Dundalk at the time, pleaded guilty to possession of an imitation firearm, unlawful seizure of a car, driving without insurance and theft.

A circuit court sentence hearing was told that he had “made great progress” since the incident and planned to set up his own fishing business.

Evidence was heard previously that on July 1, 2023, a woman had been socialising before returning to her car at Ramparts Lane to wait for a taxi.

CCTV showed the accused leaning into the vehicle and the victim getting out.

Mr Conway got in and drove off. Personal items were inside, including a bank card, which accounted for the theft charge.

Gardaí were alerted. The car was spotted at George’s Quay. The driver told officers that he had bought the car from a friend. He was accompanied by a female passenger.

A realistic imitation firearm was recovered and €25 cannabis.

Barrister Donough McDonough said that the accused completed a residential treatment course at St Francis Farm, Carlow, followed by aftercare and had made great progress.

There had been no relapse and reports were positive.

He worked as a fisherman on his father’s boat and hoped to set up his own business.

A probation report said that Mr Conway had spent most of his life in homeless accommodation until securing a council house where he now resided.

The eldest of five children and from a family of fishermen, he had significant addiction issues, having started taking cannabis at age 10.

He had lived with his grandmother but was in the Simon Community at the time of this offending.

There were two previous public order convictions.

Judge Dara Hayes said the victim, on a night out, had taken the responsible course and was waiting for a taxi when “out of the blue a violent and aggressive hijacking took place”.

It was very serious offending. A car had been hijacked with use of a “clearly realistic imitation firearm”.

The woman still bore the psychological impact.

Mr Conway had taken significant steps in rehabilitation and effectively turned his life around.

Judge Hayes said it would be “detrimental to the defendant and the community for him to be incarcerated rather than continue his recovery in the community".

Sentences of two years, nine months were imposed on each of the firearm and hijacking charges, and three months for uninsured driving, all to run concurrently and fully suspended for two years and nine months.

Conditions include 12 months of Probation Service supervision and that the defendant abstains from illicit substances.