Man ‘mistakenly’ got into car thinking it was his own
A MAN who “mistakenly” got into a car, thinking it was his own when he came out of a party drunk has been given a suspended sentence.
Patrick Kinsella was found attempting to interfere with the ignition when gardai called to the scene, and had a kitchen knife on him when arrested.
Blanchardstown District Court
Kinsella, aged 42, with an address at St Ronan’s Gardens, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to unlawful interference with a motor vehicle and possession of a knife at Rathgael Apartments, Clondalkin on April 2, 2021.
Judge Flann Brennan suspended a six-month sentence for a year on the knife charge. He put the other charge back for a week and said he would suspend a concurrent nine-month sentence if Kinsella paid €200 in compensation.
Sergeant Walter Sweeney told Blanchardstown District Court gardai were called on the date in question and told the accused was “in the area, causing annoyance”. They arrived and saw a red Nissan Micra with its hazard lights flashing.
A male – the accused – was sitting in the driver’s seat. A fly window was broken and the door frame had been pulled back and damaged. Kinsella was attempting to interfere with the ignition and had not been given permission by the owner.
Kinsella was arrested and a large kitchen knife was found on his person, Sgt Sweeney said.
The accused had 169 prior convictions for charges including road traffic offences and theft. He had been convicted previously of unauthorised taking of a vehicle.
On the night, Kinsella had been at a party, was very drunk and “mistakenly went into the wrong car,” his barrister Ciaran MacLoughlin said.
The accused’s own car was “of a similar nature”.
Kinsella had a long history of drug addiction, having started taking drugs at the age of 14, Mr MacLoughlin said.
He had a “very colourful past” but his last offence was over two years ago, in 2019. He had now been clean and sober for a year and a half, the first time in his adult life he had been completely drug-free, Mr MacLoughlin said.
The accused had moved to Wexford and was away from a peer group that had been a hindrance to his progress in life, the court heard.
He was working with horses three days per week, which was “therapeutic for his recovery”.
Kinsella seemed to be doing well, Mr MacLoughlin said, and was anxious to avoid a custodial sentence.
He asked the judge to be as lenient as he could.
The accused was remanded on continuing bail for payment of €200 compensation.
