Hospital wheelchair patient took car key and stole a vehicle from car park, Kildare court told
’You only need one leg to drive a car’ man tells judge
A man who was using a wheelchair because he had broken his leg stole a car from Naas Hospital, it's been alleged.
Before Naas District Court was Edward Stokes, 42, whose address was given as 49 Lerr Avenue, Castledermot, was in custody and appeared via videolink.
He is being prosecuted for taking possession of a mechanical vehicle on February 18, 2026, and taking a car key from the radiology clerical office at the hospital on the same date. It is also alleged he took a mobile phone, valued at €350 from the hospital on the same occasion.
Sgt Mary Meade told the court that gardaí received a report of a stolen vehicle.
Sgt Meade added the defendant was in the hospital as a patient and was in a wheelchair.
She said it will be alleged that he went to a staff room and took a car key fob, which he pressed until there was a response from a vehicle.
The court heard that the car was subsequently located in Saggart.
Asked by Judge Desmond Zaidan how he managed to drive the car if his leg was reportedly broken in four places, the man replied “you only need one leg to drive a car.”
He said that the plaster had since been removed from his leg and he had received medication while in custody.
Judge Desmond Zaidan sent the man forward for trial to Naas Circuit Court.