Gardai at the scene on Robinhood Road in January 2022
Car thief will be sentenced next month for manslaughter
A car thief will be sentenced in February for the manslaughter of a business man as he stole his vehicle, reports Claire Henry.
Adam Murphy (22) of Cherry Orchard Crescent, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10, pleaded guilty to one count of the manslaughter of Ian McDonnell on January 23, 2022.
He further pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting to take a vehicle, three counts of stealing three vehicles, one count of attempting to steal property from a vehicle and one count of stealing a push bike at various locations throughout Dublin on the same date.
His co-accused, Keith McCormick Smith (22) of Riverview, Church Road, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting to take a vehicle, three counts of stealing three vehicles, one count of attempting to steal property from a vehicle, one count of stealing a push bike at various locations in Dublin on January 23, 2022.
He further pleaded guilty to one count of possession of stolen property in the form of a car key at his address on February 8, 2022.
Ian McDonnell stopped at his business, Ozone Car Sales, on Robinhood Rd, Dublin 22, on the day in question. He pulled his car onto the forecourt and left the car running while he went inside.
The late Ian McDonnell who tragically died following the incident.
Murphy and McCormack-Smith were seen on CCTV on Robinhood Rd. They were driving a car they had stolen earlier in the afternoon. They could be seen driving past the car garage, doing a U-turn and finally pulling into a nearby business.
Murphy got out of the car and got into Mr McDonnell’s car. He began driving off in the car with Mr McDonnell on the bonnet. The car could be seen accelerating, and Mr McDonnell was carried 46 metres.
He was then thrown from the bonnet of the car and onto the roadway. His body travelled along the road for nine metres. Murphy then drove away, leaving Mr McDonnell on the road.
CCTV footage of the incident was played privately to Judge Dara Hayes.
Passers-by came upon Mr McDonnell and called the emergency services. He was taken to Tallaght Hospital, but never regained consciousness. He died on January 28, 2022.
Mr McDonnell’s car was found a few days later by gardai in the Walkinstown area.
Detective Sergeant Aiden Shaughnessy told David Perry, BL, prosecuting, that on the day in question, between 4pm and 9pm, Murphy and McCormack-Smith stole three cars and attempted to steal two more.
CCTV showed the two men in a carpark in Cherrywood. McCormack-Smith was seen on CCTV approaching a car and interfering with one of the windows. However, he failed to gain entry.
At approximately 4pm on the same day, both men were again captured on CCTV entering an apartment complex car park on Whitehall Road. The men left the car park a short time later and appeared on CCTV at 5.55pm when Murphy was now cycling a red bicycle. This was the first time he was seen cycling this bike, and gardai believed it had been stolen.
The men then returned to the apartment complex car park and stole a Toyota Aqua that Murphy drove.
The court heard that Murphy was arrested on February 16 2022. He was interviewed on four occasions. During his second interview, he said, “I accept what happened on the night; it should have never happened. It all happened so fast”.
He also said, “If I had seen him on the bonnet, I would have stopped”.
McCormack-Smith was arrested on February 14, 2022. He was detained and interviewed on four occasions. He made full admissions and said, “We set out to rob a car. We didn’t set out to kill anyone”. He said, “ I might seem like a scumbag, but I have emotions”.
Det Sgt Shaughnessy agreed with Carol Doherty, BL, defending McCormack Smith, that her client immediately indicated his remorse.
Murphy has 27 previous convictions, all from the District Court, which include road traffic offences, drug possession, arson and public order offences.
He was also disqualified from driving at the time of this offence.
McCormick Smith has 16 previous convictions, all from the District Court, which include the unauthorised taking of a vehicle, theft, public order, criminal damage and possession of knives.
