Van stolen in burglary alleged to have rammed gardaí during three county chase
A 50-year-old man who allegedly rammed a garda car with a stolen van during a traffic pursuit crossing from Dublin and into counties Meath and Kildare has been refused bail.
Anthony Dowling of Fortlawn Drive, Clonsilla, Dublin charged with theft of a Ford Transit van, dangerous driving and criminal damage in the early hours of Friday.
He appeared before Judge Catherine Ghent at Dublin District Court today.
He replied 'I didn't take' anything to motor theft related charge.
Garda Richard Finnegan told the court that the van had been taken with a car after males broke into a woman's house on Thursday.
Advertisement
A contested bail hearing was told that patrolling gardaí observed the van in the Clonee area at 4.45 am on Friday.
Garda Finnegan claimed the man was caught red-handed. He alleged the van driver led gardaí on a pursuit, and first went to Dunboyne where it came to a stop and 'reversed' into a garda car.
The gardaí dropped 'to prevent further ramming' and followed the van to Maynooth. The court heard that the was a second attempt to reverse at the garda car.
The court heard the van was abandoned in Adamstown, west Dublin and the accused was allegedly found hiding in a building nearby with the vehicle keys beside him. Garda Finnegan alleged that during the pursuit the accused had been seen driving at one stage when he turned in front of gardaí.
Garda Finnegan agreed with defence solicitor John Quinn that his client had the presumption of innocence. The officer told the hearing that directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions will be sought about further charges.
The defence proposed that Mr Dowling could be released with strict conditions and he confirmed that he would obey them.
Bail was denied and he was remanded in custody to appear again on Thursday. Legal aid was granted.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sunday World
13 hours ago
- Sunday World
Man jailed for peeing in Garda cell after his arrest
When he was put into the holding cell, Andrew O'Neill urinated on a cell door A Dublin man has been jailed for two months for urinating in a Garda cell in Co Donegal after he was arrested. Andrew O'Neill appeared at Letterkenny District Court after a drunken episode at Letterkenny bus station on April 3rd, 2024. The 34-year-old was drunk and becoming aggressive with a bus driver at 1.35pm on the day in question. Gardai were called and O'Neill, of Gardiner Street in Dublin, was arrested and taken to Letterkenny Garda Station and was searched. Stock image News in 90 Seconds - 6th June 2025 A quantity of drugs with a street value of €40 was found on the accused. When he was put into the holding cell, O'Neill urinated on a cell door. He was charged with causing criminal damage, being intoxicated in a public place and failing to comply with the directions of An Garda Siochana. O'Neill, who has 58 previous convictions including many under the Misuse of Drugs Act, is currently in custody on other matters. Solicitor for the accused, Mr Rory O'Brien said his client had come to Donegal from his native Dublin in a bid to kick his drug habit. On the day he was under the influence and Mr O'Brien said his client regrets all that happened. He added that when this happened he was on a "downward spiral" through alcohol and that he continues to need a significant amount of assistance for his addiction. Judge Eiteain Cunningham put it to Garda Sergeant Jim Collins that she presumed the station cell required a "deep clean" following the incident adding that this was simply "not acceptable behaviour." Judge Cunningham sentenced O'Neill to two months in prison for the criminal damage charge and took the other charges into consideration.
The Journal
15 hours ago
- The Journal
Grandmother handed three-year restraining order over online abuse of daughter and grandchildren
A JUDGE HAS imposed a three-year restraining order on a Dublin grandmother, barring her from posting online about her daughter after she allegedly harassed her and wished death on her grandchildren. The young woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, resorted to using anti-stalking laws and applied for the order at Dublin District Court. However, her estranged mother did not attend the scheduled hearing to contest the claims against her. 'My mother is harassing me,' her adult daughter told Judge Anthony Halpin, adding that she had been subjected to online abuse, including 'she hopes my kids die'. Asked why this happened, the woman, in her twenties, explained that she had been taken into care when she was young and there had been a fractured relationship since. She told the court that the posts started nine weeks ago after five years of no contact. Advertisement The woman believed her mother was 'retaliating for having no contact with or access to her grandchildren'. On reviewing printouts of the posts, Judge Halpin stated he was satisfied the woman had made a reasonable case for a civil restraining order barring unwanted contact and online posts about the applicant. He held that it was appropriate to compel the respondent from harassing or placing her daughter in fear. Judge Halpin said gardaí would serve the order on the grandmother, and the court had a wide range of sanctions available if she broke the terms. Breaching them can result in the subject of the order being brought to court, jailed for up to a year and a maximum €4,000 fine. The restraining orders were introduced in the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 as a remedy for people seeking protection. The District Court may issue an order to prevent the respondent from violence or threats, stalking, harassing or approaching the applicant's home, work, or school. It can run for up to five years, but may be shorter depending on the presiding judge's assessment.
Irish Independent
18 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Driver before Sligo District Court for no insurance was disqualified
Sligo Champion Today at 09:00 A 45-year-old man before Sligo District Court charged with no insurance and driving without a driver's licence was disqualified at the time of the offences. Marcin Urbaniak, Ríoch na Sí, Ballygawley, Sligo was charged with the offences at Abbey Street, Sligo on May 25 2024. Sgt Keith Marron said gardaí were on patrol and a vehicle was crossing a junction in contravention to the traffic signs.
