A teenager dangerously drove a stolen motor bike along Dublin city streets until he was boxed in by pursing garda patrol cars, a court has heard.

Ryan O’Driscoll, who was 18 at the time, has a total of 84 previous convictions, 64 of which are for road traffic offences. He is currently serving a six month sentence for minor road traffic offences.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard disqualified driver O’Driscoll, now aged 20, would like to train as a mechanic.

O’Driscoll, of St Mary’s Mansions in Dublin’s north inner city, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at Grace Park Road, Dublin 9 on March ….read more

A Limerick man broke into a parochial house in Dublin to steal money while the priest was away saying mass, a court has heard.

Gary Culhane (40), who has 97 previous convictions including burglary, robbery and theft, has spent 20 years of his life so far in prison. He now lives in homeless accommodation in Dublin,

Culhane, of Camberley House, Churchtown, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to burglary at The Good Shepard Church and Parochial House, Nutgrove Avenue, Churchtown, Dublin on October 15, 2016.

Garda Aine Bolton told Fiona Murphy BL, prosecuting, that the priest returned home after saying mass to ….read more

A man who made threats to a member of staff at a solicitor’s office has been jailed for two and a half years.

Staff at the office told gardaí that Joseph McKeon (41) was saying “crazy stuff” and threatened one woman that he would “break her jaw and blow her head off.” He also damaged a door.

Garda Joseph Bell agreed with prosecuting counsel that McKeon’s assertions about money belonging to him in relation to a claim appeared to be a figment of his imagination.

McKeon, of Rockford Park, Blackrock, Dublin pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to making a threat a ….read more

A nursing home care assistant who stole almost €20,000 from the bank account of an elderly resident has been jailed.

Carol Cullen (47) had been given two cheques by the 86 year old woman, with whom she had become friendly, before forging further cheques and stealing a total of €19,900 from her account.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard Cullen, a mother of four, was not living a lavish lifestyle and the money had been used on household expenditure.

Cullen of Edenmore Gardens, Coolock, Dublin pleaded guilty to four counts of theft from the woman and four counts of forgery of cheques on dates ….read more

A robber who has repeatedly targeted taxi drivers will be sentenced later this year for two further offences.

Thomas Joyce (37) has five previous convictions for robberies and three for attempted robberies committed against taxi drivers. He has a total of 32 previous convictions.

Joyce, of Dunsink Lane, Finglas, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbery of two taxi drivers in Finglas on November 7 and 8, 2016.

Garda Brendan Hogan told Antonia Boyle BL, prosecuting, that on both dates Joyce had flagged down the taxi drivers and directed them down a lane at Rathoath Road where the robberies took place.

Joyce ….read more

A “one man crime wave” who committed a series of thefts over the course of 2016 has been jailed.

Stephen Bollard (35) who was identified on CCTV after the incidents, told gardai his motivation was to get money for drugs. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard there no violence involved in the offences.

The father of four has 118 previous convictions including 27 for theft, 33 for burglary and nine for attempted burglary.

Bollard, of Marewood Crescent, Ballymun, Dublin pleaded guilty to two burglaries, one attempted burglary, three thefts and one criminal damage at locations in Dublin on dates between March and December 2016.

Judge ….read more

A man who took part in a attempted robbery armed with a “BB gun” in a desperate attempt to repay a drug debt has had the balance of a three year sentence suspended.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard Alan Daly (39) had been held responsible for the loss of a large quantity of drugs. He had been contacted that day by the criminals and told if he did not have money by 10pm there would be consequences.

Daly had been previously been abducted and seriously assaulted by the criminals.

He kept “sketch” at the door of a store while a co-accused, armed with ….read more

The sentencing of an inexperienced driver whose failure to properly observe oncoming traffic led to a collision with a cyclist has been adjourned to allow him gather funds.

Melvin Rattigan, who was 18 years old at the time, did not have a full driving licence or insurance for the vehicle he was driving and left the scene after the collision.

Rattigan, now aged 20, told gardai he “panicked” when he hit the cyclist and drove off. He said that he had not heard or seen a taxi driver who followed him and indicated he should return to the scene.

The cyclist, Ms Laura ….read more