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. 22656Robbery; criminal damage; dangerous driving · Co. Louth · 23 Aug 2020

Alan Melia jailed for robbery in Lisburn and ramming garda cars on M1, Louth

Alan Melia, 28, of Ballyfermot, Dublin, was sentenced to three years in prison at Dundalk Circuit Court for robbing a filling station in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, in August 2020 while armed with a screwdriver, and for ramming multiple garda patrol cars on the M1 in County Louth. He was also disqualified from driving for 15 years.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced27 Jan
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
17 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatAlan Melia, 28, of Cherry Orchard Avenue, Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty to the offences (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • what£717 sterling and about €480 were stolen from the filling station (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatCriminal damage was caused to a garda vehicle on the M1 at Newtownbalregan, Dundalk (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatTwo counts of dangerous driving occurred on the motorway at Braganstown and Drumleck (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatHe and another individual entered the filling station shortly before 3pm and escaped with the tills in a black Ford Focus (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatThe getaway car reversed and smashed into an unmarked garda patrol car on the M1 (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatThe Ford Focus turned at Applegreen Castlebellingham southbound and travelled northbound, forcing a motorist to brake to avoid a head-on collision (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatTwo further Garda vehicles were damaged in intercepting him, including one used by the Armed Support Unit (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatHe had 92 previous convictions including robbery and dangerous driving (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatHe was under a 15-year driving ban at the time of the offences (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatNo guards or members of the public were injured in the incident (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whereThe robbery took place at Applegreen, Tullynacross, Lisburn (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whenThe robbery and subsequent driving offences occurred on 23 August 2020 (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • weaponHe produced a screwdriver during the robbery (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Patrick Quinn imposed a four-year sentence for the endangerment offence with the final two years suspended on a 12-month good behaviour bond (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • sentenceHe was disqualified from driving for 15 years (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • sentenceConcurrent sentences of 12 months and four months were imposed for criminal damage and both dangerous driving charges (dundalkdemocrat.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 27 Jan2023
    Sentenceddundalkdemocrat.ie, first report
    Dundalk court: Jailed for robbery and ramming garda cars

    Sentencing at Dundalk Circuit Court: three-year sentence (four years for endangerment with two suspended on 12-month bond; concurrent 12 months and four months for criminal damage and dangerous driving); 15-year driving disqualification; 92 previous convictions noted; defence highlighted birth of his son as a turning point.

    convicted, Alan Melia, 28, male, named, irish (judged from name)Alan Meliasuspect