Stolen car crashed in attempt to flee gardaí in Cork

A man sped from gardaí in a stolen car in Youghal — only to crash into a wall in the area.

That was the scenario described by Garda Donnchadh Finnegan at Cork Circuit Criminal Court at the sentencing hearing for 21-year-old Roman Whelan, of Cork Hill, Youghal, Cork.

The man pleaded guilty to driving the car without consent of the owner, dangerous driving, and causing criminal damage.

Garda Finnegan said Garda Brendan Collins spotted the rental car, rented by another person, being driven by Whelan after 11.30pm on February 15: “The driving was dangerous as the accused man did a dangerous U-turn at Greencloyne, Youghal, and sped away from the gardaí, but crashed into a wall at Copper Alley Close.”

The accused was under a six-month suspended sentence for assault at the time.

Judge Dermot Sheehan asked what could be said to prevent activation of this sentence and the imposition of a consecutive new sentence.

Defence barrister Patrick O’Riordan said of the February offences: “This has brought the overdue wake-up call that the six-month suspended sentence should have brought.”

Mr O’Riordan said the defendant was hoping that sentencing could be adjourned to show that he could live a better life. Judge Sheehan asked Garda Finnegan for his view on the man’s behaviour at the moment. Garda Finnegan said: “He is keeping his head down.”

Judge Sheehan adjourned sentencing until November 17, 2026.