Laois man to be sentenced this month for crashing a stolen car

A YOUNG Laois man is to be sentenced next month for the robbery of a car which subsequently crashed after being driven at speed through the town two years ago.

John McDonagh (20), a single male of Willow Grove, Mountmellick, Co Laois pleaded guilty at a sitting of Portlaoise Circuit Criminal Court to robbery of the vehicle.

Garda Donal Bigley gave evidence that he became suspicious about a vehicle whose driver was “crouched down” towards the passenger seat as it emerged from Willow Grove on 22 February 2023.

He described how the 152-reg Toyota Aqua took off at speed before going straight through a roundabout in the centre of Mountmellick.

Garda Bigley said he did not activate his patrol vehicle’s blue lights as he was concerned it might cause the motorist to drive more carelessly.

The court heard that the vehicle crashed into the rear of a Kia Sportage on Lord Edward Street in Mountmellick.

Damage to the other vehicle was estimated at €3,500, while the Toyota Aqua, which had been stolen from outside a property in Kildare town the previous night, was “an effective write-off”, said Garda Bigley.

He recalled that the vehicle had also come close to hitting a person using a pedestrian crossing in the town.

Mr McDonagh, who has 34 previous convictions, remained silent after he was arrested about the incident.

Defence counsel Daniel O’Connell BL admitted that the accused had a history of offending but noted he was on a waiting list for drug treatment services.

Judge Keenan Johnson said aggravating factors were that Mr McDonagh had taken a car and drove a vehicle without insurance or a driving licence.

The judge noted the accused had also driven in a dangerous manner, which resulted in a collision, and had also placed an innocent bystander in danger.

He observed that Mr McDonagh had offered no restitution for the damage he had caused, while a probation report had assessed that he was at a high risk of reoffending.

Judge Johnson said the defendant had a significant number of previous convictions, including ones for criminal damage, theft, assault and public order offences.

In the accused’s favour, the judge said he had entered an early guilty plea to the charge and had expressed remorse for his offending.

While Mr McDonagh came from a decent family, the judge said he needed help to deal with his anger management and drug addiction.

“It’s possible to turn his life around and I would encourage him to do so,” he added.

Judge Johnson fixed a headline sentence for the offence at four years in prison, but adjourned the hearing until 19 February to allow for completion of an updated probation report to see how Mr McDonagh, who has been in custody since November 2024, was getting on.

The judge said an element of the sentence might be suspended on that date if the report was “all glowing”.