Mr Flashy's drug dealer pal spared jail over violent street brawl
Ward (32) and his brother Eric O'Driscoll (23), who were recently jailed for firearms offences, both avoided further jail time last week
This is the Finglas drug dealer who was given a suspended sentence for his part in a brawl when Glen 'Mr Flashy' Ward was caught on video wielding a bicycle saddle.
Ward (32) and his brother Eric O'Driscoll (23), who were recently jailed for firearms offences, both avoided further jail time this week over a violent disorder incident in Finglas in August 2022.
Glen Ward and Eric O'Driscoll
Ward was filmed as he swung the saddle at a group of men on Cardiffsbridge Road, Finglas West on August 9, 2022. The court heard a another man had also received an 18-month suspended sentence over the incident.
The third man is their associate Darragh Collopy (21), with an address at Cardiffsbridge Avenue in Finglas.
While Collopy avoided jail over the brawl, he was previously sentenced to three years with one suspended after being convicted of drugs charges in 2023.
The street brawl involving Glen 'Mr Flashy' Ward.
He was caught with a large amount of cannabis for sale or supply at Abbotstown Drive in Finglas on January 19, 2022 and later convicted under Section 15a of the Misuse of Drugs Act.
While on remand in Cloverhill for the drugs charges, Collopy was caught with a cell phone in his cell during a routine search by prison officers
He later pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a mobile phone while in custody.
Darragh Collopy
Video shows Glen Ward aka 'Mr Flashy' armed with a bicycle saddle during daylight street brawl in Finglas
Blanchardstown District Court heard that the handset was found during a search of Collopy's cell at Wheatfield Prison, Cloverhill Road, Clondalkin, on March 29, 2023.
Collopy had 24 previous convictions and was already serving a sentence when he appeared in court on the phone offence.
Like Collopy, Ward was given an 18-month suspended sentence for his part in the Finglas brawl, while O'Driscoll was given a two-year sentence with the final 18 months suspended.
Darragh Collopy was given an 18-month suspended sentence
Both also pleaded guilty to the production of a bicycle saddle in the course of a dispute, on the same date after O Driscoll went to Dunnes Stores in Finglas when the court heard there were 'verbals' between two groups of people.
The court heard Ward was the third of six siblings and trained as a mechanic. He has a long-term partner and a child.
O'Driscoll was also sentenced after he pleaded to endangerment and dangerous driving offences arising out of a motorcycle incident in November 17, 2022.
The court heard he was 'emotional' having attended a memorial service for his friend. He was on bail at the time of the offence.
Ward has 22 previous convictions and O'Driscoll has nine.
The street brawl involving Glen 'Mr Flashy' Ward.
The two brothers are currently serving sentence for firearms offences after being caught on video firing shots from a semi-automatic rifle during a house party in Finglas.
Ward was jailed for six years and three months, with nine month suspended after he pleaded guilty to a charge that on January 1, 2022 at an address in Finglas he possessed or had control of a .223 calibre Remington AR-15 semi-automatic rifle in circumstances giving rise to a reasonable inference that he did not have it for a lawful purpose.
O'Driscoll pleaded guilty to possession of the same gun and was sentenced to six years with one year suspended.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sunday World
3 hours ago
- Sunday World
Serial sex predator back on the prowl after prison chiefs give him second chance
Remorseless attacker knocked one woman's teeth out and grabbed another by the genitals Thomas Ward has been told he's not welcome back to Coalisland One of Ulster's most dangerous sex predators is back on the prowl after prison chiefs deemed him worthy of a second chance. Thomas Ward was fast-tracked into a pre-release programme in 2023 but he breached the terms of his release and was thrown back into jail. In 2011 a judge deemed Ward, who is now aged 37, to be so dangerous he was ordered to serve an indeterminate jail term for a second sick sex attack on a woman. But five years before that Ward kidnapped a 45-year-old woman and sexually assaulted her and tried to rape her – knocking out her teeth during the savage attack. We can reveal that remorseless sex attacker Ward is now back on the streets after he was given a second chance at serving the last few months of his sentence in Burren House. Burren House holds up to 20 prisoners in unlocked cells at a site in the grounds of the old Crumlin Road jail in Belfast and inmates are allowed to leave the unit during the day and even have jobs. Recently we revealed a list of killers and other life-sentence prisoners who are due to be either released completely or are due to be sent to Burren House – the Northern Ireland Prison Service's 'open prison' unit designed to prepare lifers for permanent release They include monsters like Stephen 'Bulldog' Scott who hacksawed his pregnant teenage girlfriend Sylvia Fleming after he'd murdered her in 1998, and Andrew Robinson, jailed for life for stabbing his fiancée, Julie-Anne Osborne, nearly 50 times in 2001. Burren House holds up to 20 prisoners in unlocked cells Security sources have told the Sunday World they want a review of the process, pointing out how some prisoners have been moved there multiple times despite their rule-breaking while others who are well behaved never get a chance. Despite his disgusting crimes and rule breaches, Ward has been deemed safe to be set loose on the streets. As part of his first release programme back in 2023, Ward has been on several UTRs (unaccompanied temporary releases) with family. He has also been approved access to female relatives despite being a danger to women and being deemed the most high-risk level of sex offender. 'Here's another one who has breached the rules and been sent back but is getting another chance,' said a prison insider. 'He's a thug too – he was notorious for picking on other inmates and beating them up. He was even done for attacking a prison officer ten years ago so it's not like he's been a model prisoner. 'It's another example of someone getting preferential treatment for some reason while other prisoners who do behave never get a chance.' When he was first listed for release to Burren two years ago, members of the Traveller community, of which Thomas Ward belongs, made it clear he wasn't welcome back in Coalisland where he had lived before. In February 2011, Ward followed and attacked a woman as she jogged through Cookstown in a terrifying repeat offence. After grabbing the woman by her genitals, he then chased her down the street. The shocking incident – caught on CCTV – happened in broad daylight and police caught him shortly afterwards in a Tesco car park. The woman told police she only escaped his attack when she fled into a house. Judge David McFarland ordered that Ward serve an indeterminate prison sentence with a minimum of two years and only to be released when he is no longer thought to pose a risk of reoffending. But the husband of his first victim – who Ward tried to rape in 2006 – told us there should never have been a second. Thomas Ward has been told he's not welcome back to Coalisland ui Ward had already served two years of a five-year sentence for another serious sex attack in 2006 before he was released into the public again as a Category Three offender – the most dangerous on the scale. In 2010 the husband of that victim told the Sunday World that Ward would strike again and should never have been released. Speaking at the time, the man said: 'That animal will attack another woman I have no doubt about it.' As it turned out he did strike again and appeared in court just a few days after our article appeared when he attacked the female jogger in Cookstown. 'Ward should never have been out free to attack this poor woman,' said the man, who asked not to be identified to protect his wife. 'This time they should lock him up and throw away the key – he's an animal. He wrecked my wife's life and all he served was two-and-a-half years of a five-year jail sentence.' Ward assaulted the man's wife after he had kidnapped her in Coalisland. He held the 45-year-old woman against her will and knocked out her teeth during the savage attack. As well as sexual assault, Ward was also convicted of kidnapping and causing his victim actual bodily harm. The attack only ended when his victim wrapped her handbag around her fist and hit him before biting his fingers. She then ran in the dark through a wooded area and managed to flag down a passing female motorist.
Sunday World
a day ago
- Sunday World
Grandad who stole alcohol using wire cutter to pay drug debt is spared jail
'These are serious matters - stealing alcohol in order to pay off a drug debt is not acceptable' A 54-year-old man who stole 17 bottles of spirits to repay a drug debt has been given a probation bond. Brian Early, of St Joseph's Avenue, Newbridge, Co Kildare, pleaded guilty at Dún Laoghaire District Court to theft, possession of stolen property and possession of certain articles in relation to two incidents in February last year. The court heard that on February 12, 2024, Early stole 17 bottles of alcohol worth €660 from Dunnes Stores in Cornelscourt, Dublin 18. Detective Sergeant Wendy Byrne told the court that Early had removed the security tags from the bottles using wire cutters. He had made a small payment for a packet of toilet rolls to give the impression of a legitimate purchase. Photo: Getty. Today's News in 90 Seconds - 08 July 2025 She said the theft was premeditated and that two bottles of Bombay Sapphire gin, worth €50 to €60 each, were recovered. When asked by Judge Conor Fottrell if all of the stolen goods had been retrieved, Sgt Byrne said not all were recovered, but the total value taken was approximately €700. Silvia-Maria Crowley BL, counsel for the defence, said Early, a father and grandfather, had developed a serious addiction to crack cocaine in recent years. After a five-year battle with cancer and the death of his father, his life became 'chaotic,' the court was told. She said her client stole the alcohol to repay a drug debt, but has since gone cold turkey and remained clean for the past 10 months. The court heard he did not attend a formal drug programme but had sought support from Pieta House after a previous mental health crisis. Ms Crowley said that her client receives a disability allowance and had entered guilty pleas at an early stage. He is no longer in counselling but is making efforts to rebuild his life, the court heard. Judge Fottrell noted the court was told the offences arose out of a drug debt. "That may well be the case - but it's ridiculous. You need to sort it out,' he told the defendant. 'These are serious matters - stealing alcohol in order to pay off a drug debt is not acceptable. But I accept you've taken steps to address your situation,' he added. Taking into account the guilty plea, Early's personal circumstances and his engagement with support services, Judge Fottrell imposed a 12-month probation bond on condition that Early keeps the peace and engages in good behaviour. 'I suggest you continue to engage with Pieta House and any further counselling available to you,' the judge said. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Irish Independent
‘It's ridiculous. You need to sort it out' – Grandad who stole alcohol using wire cutter to pay drug debt is spared jail
Brian Early, of St Joseph's Avenue, Newbridge, Co Kildare, pleaded guilty at Dún Laoghaire District Court to theft, possession of stolen property and possession of certain articles in relation to two incidents in February last year. The court heard that on February 12, 2024, Early stole 17 bottles of alcohol worth €660 from Dunnes Stores in Cornelscourt, Dublin 18. Detective Sergeant Wendy Byrne told the court that Early had removed the security tags from the bottles using wire cutters. He had made a small payment for a packet of toilet rolls to give the impression of a legitimate purchase. She said the theft was premeditated and that two bottles of Bombay Sapphire gin, worth €50 to €60 each, were recovered. When asked by Judge Conor Fottrell if all of the stolen goods had been retrieved, Sgt Byrne said not all were recovered, but the total value taken was approximately €700. Silvia-Maria Crowley BL, counsel for the defence, said Early, a father and grandfather, had developed a serious addiction to crack cocaine in recent years. After a five-year battle with cancer and the death of his father, his life became 'chaotic,' the court was told. She said her client stole the alcohol to repay a drug debt, but has since gone cold turkey and remained clean for the past 10 months. The court heard he did not attend a formal drug programme but had sought support from Pieta House after a previous mental health crisis. Ms Crowley said that her client receives a disability allowance and had entered guilty pleas at an early stage. He is no longer in counselling but is making efforts to rebuild his life, the court heard. Judge Fottrell noted the court was told the offences arose out of a drug debt. "That may well be the case - but it's ridiculous. You need to sort it out,' he told the defendant. 'These are serious matters - stealing alcohol in order to pay off a drug debt is not acceptable. But I accept you've taken steps to address your situation,' he added. Taking into account the guilty plea, Early's personal circumstances and his engagement with support services, Judge Fottrell imposed a 12-month probation bond on condition that Early keeps the peace and engages in good behaviour. 'I suggest you continue to engage with Pieta House and any further counselling available to you,' the judge said.
