Friday 6 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. 28156Failing to give information; criminal damage (driving a car and damaging property not his own) · Co. Limerick · 18 Aug 2020

Driver adjourned for probation report after criminal damage in Athea

Patrick O'Connell, a man from Kerry, crashed his car into a pier at the entrance to a house in Gortnagross, Athea, Limerick on 18 August 2020. He left a handwritten note on the windscreen and left the scene; the damage to the pier was minor. He was arrested by Garda William McElligott and gave a blood sample which returned a negative result. He was charged with failing to give information and driving a car and damaging property not his own. At Newcastle West court, his solicitor argued he was not trying to avoid detection, and Judge Carol Ann Cooligan adjourned the case to 19 May for a probation report.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court6 Feb
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • He crashed his car into a pier at the entrance to a house and left a handwritten note on the windscreen before leaving the scene.
  • The damage to the pier was minor.
Where
Gortnagross, Athea, Limerick.
When
The incident occurred on 18 August 2020.
Investigation
Garda William McElligott responded to the road traffic incident and arrested the suspect.
Other details
He gave a blood sample which returned a negative result.
Charges
He was charged with failing to give information and driving a car and damaging property not his own.
In court
  • The case was heard at Newcastle West court before Judge Carol Ann Cooligan, where his solicitor Brendan Aherne argued he was not trying to avoid detection.
  • The case was adjourned to 19 May for a probation report.
9 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatHe left a handwritten note on the windscreen after the crash (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatThe damage to the pier was minor (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatHe was arrested by Garda McElligott (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatHe gave a blood sample which turned up nothing (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenThe incident occurred on 18 August 2020 (limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationGarda William McElligott responded to the road traffic incident (limerickleader.ie)
  • chargeHe was charged with failing to give information and driving a car and damaging property not his own (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at Newcastle West court (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtJudge Carol Ann Cooligan adjourned the case to 19 May for a probation report (limerickleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 6 Feb2022
    In courtlimerickleader.ie, first report
    Court told driver who crashed into pier of Limerick home wrote note but left the scene

    First court appearance; solicitor argued he was not trying to avoid detection; case adjourned for probation report.

    accused, Patrick O'Connell, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick O'Connell