Court hears teenager stole cars in Kildare, Dublin and Laois

A teenager appeared in court accused of going on a crime “spree” and stealing cars and keys from houses. 

Micheal McGinley (19) of 20 Ringfort Avenue, Balrothery, Dublin pleading guilty to 15 charges arising from incidents in Laois, Kildare and Dublin in April this year.  

In evidence at the sitting of Portlaoise District Court, Detective Garda Paul Kelly said the defendant had pleaded guilty to 15 charges before the court.

He said on April 25, 2024 the defendant had stolen a white 171KE registered BMW after entering an unlocked house and stealing the keys at Branswood, Kilkenny Road, Athy, Co Kildare. Det Kelly said the car was later discovered abandoned but undamaged in Balbriggan. 

On April 28, 2024, the teenager stole a 181D registered white Mini Cooper from a driveway in Palmerstown, Dublin. The car was recovered in Rathdowney and while it wasn’t damaged, Det Kelly said it had broken down. 

He said on April 29 this year the defendant had taken a bank card from an unlocked car in Kilminchy, Portlaoise and on the same date he had interfered with a 192D registered VW Golf at Slieve Bloom Heights in Rathdowney but nothing was taken and no damage occurred. 

On the same date he entered a house at the Showgrounds, Rathdowney and stole a set of keys. He then used the keys to steal a 12 D registered white VW Passat CC car which was later written off. 

The defendant also took a Revolut and bank card from an unlocked car at Slieve Bloom Heights, Rathdowney on the same date. The items weren’t recovered. 

Det Kelly said the teenager drove off without paying for €97.90 worth of diesel at Circle K Manor Stone, Ballacolla on April 29. He also took €350 and a wallet from a vehicle at O’Daly Terrace, Rathdowney on the same date and interfered with two vehicles.

The teenager used a stolen card to purchase goods in three transactions at Applegreen, Monasterevin Road, Athy, Kildare with a total value of €62.20. 

Solicitor Michael Byrne said his client was a very young man who was “putting his hands up” in relation to the offending. He acknowledged there were a “shocking amount of incidents” but said they happened over a short period of time.  

“It was a spree,” Mr Bryne admitted, but he said the teenager had become involved in bad company and was using alcohol, cannabis and street tablets at the time. 

“He is in custody, six months on these matters,” said Mr Byrne. 

“My instructions are he has distanced himself from his drug use,” said Mr Byrne. 

He said the teenager was remorseful and was doing well in custody. He asked the judge to consider referring him to the probation services to see if he was suitable for community service. 

Judge Susan Fay asked how many previous convictions the defendant had. She was informed that he had 34 previous and Mr Byrne said he believed many had occurred when he was a minor. 

Judge Fay said they were very serious offences that had caused trauma to the victims. After considering the charges and submissions in mitigation, Judge Fay convicted the defendant and imposed a 14 month sentence.  She backdated the sentence to May 1 when the teen had gone into custody and she fixed recognisance in case of appeal.