Gerard McDonnell and Christian Goonery jailed for truck hijacking

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Gerard McDonnell and Christian Goonery were jailed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, reported on 23 March 2018, after pleading guilty to offences involving the hijacking of a skip-hire truck. McDonnell received five years, with two suspended, while Goonery received four years, with two suspended.

The truck was taken at Deansrath Green, Clondalkin, on 6 February 2016 after the driver was dragged from the cab and struck around the head. McDonnell admitted stealing and unlawfully seizing the vehicle, along with endangerment and two dangerous-driving counts; Goonery pleaded guilty to unlawfully taking it and being a passenger.

Judge Cormac Quinn also banned McDonnell from driving for 10 years. The court heard that the driver suffered bruising to his face and head, while the truck later overturned during a garda pursuit.