Sunday 1 November 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 22166Attempted robbery; theft of a vehicle; abduction; criminal damage · Co. Dublin · 30 May 2022

Aaron Gilsenan jailed for four years for stealing car with children and attempted robbery in Clondalkin

Aaron Gilsenan, 42, of St Mark's Gardens, Clondalkin, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for stealing a car with two young children in it and using it as a getaway vehicle in an attempted robbery at a nail salon in Clondalkin on 30 May 2022. He pleaded guilty to charges including abduction, theft of a vehicle, two counts of attempted robbery, and criminal damage.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced28 Feb
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
19 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGilsenan was intoxicated when he first tried to rob a shop. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatHe fled the first shop without taking anything. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatHe jumped into a car left with keys in the ignition and four and six year old children sitting in it. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe car owner had left it for a few minutes to get groceries in a nearby shop. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe sales assistant contacted Gardaí when the owner ran back into the shop. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatGardaí put out an alert and stopped the car 2km away. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe children were in the car unharmed. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe children had been missing for about ten minutes. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatOne child said Gilsenan had only asked them if they had any money. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatHe pulled the cash register in an attempt to take it, causing damage. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatHe left the children in the car when he ran into the salon. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeCharges included abduction, stealing a car, two charges of attempted robbery on the Ninth Lock Road and Collinstown Road, and criminal damage at the salon. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge jailed Gilsenan for four years on the first charge of attempted robbery, taking the other charges into consideration. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherGilsenan has 93 previous convictions. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherHe had been on remand in custody since his arrest in May 2022. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThere was no victim impact statement in the case. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe judge acknowledged Gilsenan had a long battle with addiction and a drug debt he was trying to clear. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThere was no garda chase and Gilsenan caused no difficulty to officers. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherDefence counsel said Gilsenan acted without reasonable thought out of desperation to clear a drug debt. (thejournal.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 28 Feb2023
    Sentencedthejournal.ie, first report
    Man who stole a car with children in it and used it in attempted robbery jailed for four years

    Reports the sentencing of Aaron Gilsenan to four years' imprisonment by Judge Martin Nolan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with details of the offences, the children's experience, and the judge's remarks on his addiction and drug debt.

    convicted, Aaron Gilsenan, 42, male, named, irish (judged from name)Aaron Gilsenanvictim, 4victim, 6