Leonard Dumbrell granted conditional bail for drug treatment

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

At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 21 October 2014, Judge Mary Ellen Ring remanded Leonard Dumbrell in custody with consent to bail for Thursday, pending sentence. The proceedings were reported on 21 October 2014.

He had pleaded guilty to car theft in Dublin 4 and two counts of dangerous driving in Dublin city centre. The offences took place on 2 January 2013.

The report said Dumbrell stole the car in Ballsbridge, drove at speed and the wrong way along one-way streets, and crashed at Temple Bar Square. The court heard he almost knocked over pedestrians on O’Connell Bridge while escaping gardaí.

Defence counsel John Berry BL said a place was available for four weeks of residential treatment followed by four weeks of aftercare. He described Dumbrell as chaotic at the time of the offences and said his drug problem was the root cause of his offending.

Dumbrell had 108 previous convictions, including car thefts, assaulting a garda and violent disorder. Prosecuting counsel Lorcan Staines BL said the State opposed bail because of his record, including bench warrants. He said Dumbrell had previously absconded on his sentencing date and failed to complete another residential treatment programme.

Mr Berry said Dumbrell acknowledged leaving the Victory Outreach programme but now had motivation through a supportive partner. He said Dumbrell had already detoxed while on remand in Cloverhill.

Dumbrell was to enter the bail bond before the governor. Judge Ring said leaving the treatment centre without its consent would breach the bond: gardaí were to be notified and she would issue a warrant. Mr Berry said any breach would result in Dumbrell being remanded in prison.