Wednesday 28 October 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. 6423Careless driving · Co. Clare · 5 Feb 2022

Garda fined €500 for careless driving after low-impact collision with taxi in Ennis

On February 5th, 2022, at about 1.55am, David Kenneally (41), a serving Garda, had a very low-impact collision at less than 10km per hour with the back of a taxi on Abbey Street, Ennis, Co Clare, after failing a roadside breath-test. He was initially charged with careless driving, drink driving and frustrating a Garda prosecution, and pleaded not guilty to all three. He has been suspended from An Garda Siochána since the offence, and at Ennis District Court he changed his plea to guilty to careless driving while the State withdrew the other two charges. Judge Alec Gabbett fined him €500 in February 2024.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced29 Feb
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • David Kenneally, 41, a serving Garda from Co Clare, was involved in a collision with the back of a taxi while driving home from a pub.
  • The collision was a very low-impact one at less than 10km per hour.
Where
The collision happened on Abbey Street, Ennis, Co Clare.
When
The collision happened at 1.55am on February 5th, 2022.
Other details
  • He had failed a roadside breath-test for alcohol.
  • He has been suspended from An Garda Siochána since the offence in February 2022.
Charges
  • He initially pleaded not guilty to careless driving, drink driving and frustrating a Garda prosecution.
  • During the hearing he changed his plea to guilty to careless driving.
  • The State withdrew the drink-driving and frustrating-prosecution charges.
In court
  • The case was heard at Ennis District Court before Judge Alec Gabbett.
  • The State said he has no previous convictions.
Sentence
He was fined €500 for careless driving.
12 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA serving Garda was convicted of careless driving after a late-night collision with a taxi on his way home from the pub. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe collision was with the back of a taxi at less than 10km per hour. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe collision happened on Abbey Street, Ennis, Co Clare. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe collision happened at 1.55am on February 5th, 2022. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe accused initially pleaded not guilty to three charges: careless driving, drink driving and frustrating a Garda prosecution. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHe changed his plea to guilty to careless driving mid-hearing. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe State withdrew the drink-driving and frustrating-prosecution charges. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe case was heard at Ennis District Court before Judge Alec Gabbett. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe State said he has no previous convictions. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceHe was fined €500. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe driver had failed a roadside breath-test for alcohol. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHe has been suspended from An Garda Siochána since the offence in February 2022. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 29 Feb2024
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Garda convicted of careless driving after collision with taxi on way home from pub

    Court report on the sentencing: David Kenneally, 41, changed his plea to guilty to careless driving, the State dropped the drink-driving and frustrating-prosecution charges, and he was fined €500 at Ennis District Court.

    convicted, David Kenneally, 41, named, irish (judged from name)David Kenneally