Teens accused of stealing cars in Kildare

Two teenagers with alleged links to the so called ‘lucky dip gang’  who are accused of stealing cars were sent to detention in Oberstown Detention Centre.  

Garda Detective Sergeant WIlliam Delaney gave evidence in relation to four teenagers who are accused of the unlawful taking of cars in Laois. None of the accused can be named due to their age. 

One of the accused, a 17 year old boy with a Laois address, appeared in court accompanied by both his parents. 

He is accused of the unlawful taking of a vehicle from  Dara Park, Newbridge, Co Kildare between the February 7 and 9, 2024, the unlawful taking of a car from Carmody Way, Portlaoise on February 27, 2024, the unlawful taking of a car from Ashwood Walk, Summerhill Lane, Portlaoise on February 27, 2024, the unlawful taking of a car from the Abbeyleix Road, Portlaoise on June 17, 2024 and the unlawful taking of a car from Stradbrook Apartments, Stradbally on March 23, 2024 and dangerous driving at Green Mill Lane, Portlaoise on the same date. The youth is also accused of criminal damage at Timahoe GAA grounds on February 28 and criminal damage at Stradbally GAA grounds on February 28, 2024. The teenager is further accused of theft of a wallet at SS Peter and Paul’s Church, Portlaoise and making gain by deception at Portlaoise Plaza and Lidl Portlaoise on December 15, 2023. 

Det Delaney said the defendant was regularly coming to the attention of gardaí including in relation to “extremely serious matters”. He said incidents had been posted onto Tiktok. These included the theft of a car from Castlecomer which was “subject to a high speed pursuit” by multiple vehicles from the garda’s Dublin Metropolitan Region who stopped the pursuit with “a stinger device” on the M7 on April 20. 

Det Delaney said the car was driven in excess of 180kph and video of the pursuit was published online. “These clips went viral on social media,” he said. 

Det Delaney said the defendant was a back seat passenger in the car.  A video of the events was played in the courtroom which included a number of clips taken from inside the car as it was being pursued and outside. 

Judge Andrew Cody noted the teens “were referred to as the copy cat lucky dip gang.” 

Det Delaney said it would be alleged that “they meet up regularly and go out committing crime.”    

He said the defendant “was arrested in Dublin in the company of the notorious lucky dip gang” in possession of articles he discarded and a file will be sent to Garda Youth Diversion. He said there were no beds available at Oberstown Detention Centre.  

Det Delaney said the defendant had no regard whatsoever for road users or the court.    

Judge Andrew Cody said it was the State’s problem that no bed was available at Oberstown. 

“There is no bed available and our hands are tied. That is not my problem,” said Judge Cody. 

Solicitor Philip Meagher said the court in Dublin had imposed strict bail since his arrest in April. He said his client was for the most part signing on daily since that regime was put in place. 

Det Delaney said the defendant was constantly coming to garda attention. He said the defendant was out in breach of his curfew two days before the court sitting. 

Mr Meagher said “once arrested he co-operated fully and made admissions.”

Det Delaney said gardai were investigating the defendant's alleged involvement in a car theft on April 19. 

Mr Meagher said “he very much realises the peril that he is in as regards custody.”  He said the youth seems a vulnerable young man who is open to suggestion. He said a number of teenagers appear to have come under the influence of a Dublin gang. 

Judge Cody said this was the third chance he had gotten at Portlaoise District Court. He said it would not be his problem if the defendant killed someone on the road. He ordered that the teenager be detained in Obestown to appear again before Portlaoise District Court on May 15. “If they don’t have a bed, not my problem,” said Judge Cody. 

Another accused is aged 15. He too has a Laois address and is accused of the unlawful  taking of a cars in 2024 at Porlaoise Hospital on January 20, at Dara Park Newbridge between February 7 and 9, at the Lane, College Farm, Newbridge between February 16 and 17 and on the Abbeyleix Road, Portlaoise on June 17. He is further charged with unauthorised carriage in a vehicle at Campus filling station, Carlow Road, Abbeyleix and making off without payment on April 10, 2025 and criminal damage at Portlaoise Hospital  on January 20, 2024, at Portlaoise Train Station car park on January 6, 2024 at Ashwood Walk, Summerhill Lane on February 27 and 28, 2024 and at  Maryborough Village, Portlaoise on the same dates. The defendant is also accused of stealing a wallet at SS Peter and Paul’s Church, Portlaoise and making gain by deception at Portlaoise Plaza and Lidl Portlaoise on December 15, 2023.  

Det Delaney showed the video of a car that was stopped by a stinger device “being maxed out at 180kph” and he said the defendant was the front seat passenger. He said the car had been driven the wrong way down a motorway during the chase. He said a garda helicopter can be seen in the footage as “huge resources” went into stopping the car. “That chase went through three counties,” he said. 

Det Delaney said some of the footage shown in court had been recorded from the passenger seat. “This is a montage of their own footage clips and members of the public,” said Det Delaney. 

“They are boasting?” asked Judge Cody. “Absolutely,” replied Det Delaney.  He said there was no bed available in Oberstown when the youths were stopped and they were released on bail. 

He said the defendant was questioned in relation to another car theft after that during which a car was driven in excess of 180kph and again the wrong way down a motorway. He said a video of the incident was posted online after the defendant was questioned.  

Solicitor Barry Fitzgerald acknowledged “the pattern of behaviour before the court is clearly extremely serious.” He said the teenager’s parents “are going through the mill” and said someone putting up a video in the aftermath of a criminal investigation “speaks to a mentality which clearly requires further investigation.” 

Det Delaney said the defendant has been identified in other Tiktok videos featuring stolen cars.   

Judge Andrew Cody said the defendant “poses a serious threat to the life and the health of members of the public.” 

“He is out of control on a crime spree day in, day out,” said Judge Cody. He remanded the teenager in detention to appear again before Portlaoise District Court on May 15. 

Det Delaney said a 14 year-old accused wasn’t on the same level as the others but was breaching his bail conditions. 

The teenager, who has a Laois address, is accused of the unlawful taking of a car at Portlaoise Hospital on January 20, 2024, at The Green, Kilminchy, Portlaoise on February 20, 2024 at Stradbrook Apartments, Stradbally on March 23, 2024, causing criminal damage at Priory Court, Kildare town on February 25, 2024 and engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour at Castletown, Mountrath on June 20, 2024.   

Solicitor Barry Fitzgerald said his client was diagnosed with ADHD and there are underlying issues. 

Judge Cody remanded the youth on bail to appear again before Portlaoise District Court on May 15. 

Another 17 year old boy appeared before Portlaoise District Court. He has a Laois address. He is accused of the unlawful taking of a car at the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise and criminal damage at the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise on January 20 last year. He is further accused of possessing drugs at Portlaoise Garda Station on June 4 last year. 

Det Delaney said all four defendants had not been abiding by their bail conditions. He said the 17 year old was “probably the best of the four” but still failed to abide by his bail. 

Det Delaney said it would be alleged the teenager was observed discarding vice grips and gloves which he said were tools of choice. He said the matter was under investigation.  

Judge Andrew Cody said there had been several complaints of breaches and the defendant was “mixing with the wrong people.” 

A solicitor for the accused said there were no new charges before the court and the defendant was a youth. They said all avenues should be exhausted before a youth is placed in custody.  

Judge Cody said the teenager was “making it difficult for everybody” as he granted him bail with conditions to appear again before Portlaoise District Court on June 26.