Ireland Case No. 6739Dangerous driving and endangerment · Co. Kildare · 22 Aug 2022
Man convicted of dangerous driving after garda dragged in Kildare
On 22 August 2022 (some reports give 26 August) at 11.45pm in Barberstown, near Straffan, Co Kildare, garda Gerard Kennedy was dragged approximately 40 metres along a road, suffering serious head injuries, after attempting to seize a UK-registered BMW with no insurance. George Richard Asimionesei, a 23-year-old man from Rathcoole, Co Dublin, was arrested the following morning in Straffan after a witness reported him, and a thumbprint on the driver's wheel was matched to him. He was charged with dangerous driving, driving without insurance, and driving without a licence, and was remanded in custody before the case was sent to Naas Circuit Criminal Court. On 18 January 2024, Asimionesei pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and endangerment, and sentencing was adjourned to allow consideration of a probation report.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court29 Mar
2 reports - Convicted18 Jan
3 reports - Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A garda was dragged along a road by a car after the driver resisted having the vehicle seized.
- The vehicle was a UK-registered red BMW coupé with no insurance, valued at €25,000.
- The garda was dragged between 40 metres and 70 feet before falling and hitting his head, suffering concussion and requiring 15 staples.
- The vehicle crashed into a wall and a traffic light.
- Where
- The incident took place at Barberstown, near Straffan, Co Kildare.
- When
- The incident occurred on 22 August 2022 (some reports give 26 August 2022) at 11.45pm.
- Investigation
- Asimionesei was arrested in Straffan the following morning after a witness reported him, and a thumbprint on the driver's wheel was matched to him while his phone was found in the vehicle.
- Charges
- He was charged with dangerous driving, driving without insurance, and driving without a licence.
- In court
- He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and endangerment at Naas Circuit Criminal Court on 18 January 2024.
- Sentence
- Sentencing was adjourned to allow consideration of a probation report.
- Other details
- The accused had 22 previous convictions, mostly for theft and road traffic offences, and had been disqualified from driving at the time of the offence.
- The injured garda, Gerard Kennedy, resigned from the force in October 2023, not solely on medical grounds.
60 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe defendant is George Richard Asimionesei, aged 20, of 1 Barrack Court, Rathcoole. (kildarenow.com)
- whatThe garda was dragged up to 70 feet by the vehicle. (kildarenow.com)
- whatThe vehicle was a UK-registered BMW. (kildarenow.com)
- whatThe vehicle had no insurance. (kildarenow.com)
- whatGardaí intended to seize the vehicle. (kildarenow.com)
- whatA PSNI check indicated there was no registered owner of the vehicle. (kildarenow.com)
- whatSgt Taylor valued the car at €25,000. (kildarenow.com)
- whatWhen the garda attempted to switch off the ignition, the defendant put the car into gear and drove away. (kildarenow.com)
- whatThe garda was dragged between 60 and 70 feet before falling and hitting his head. (kildarenow.com)
- whatThe vehicle crashed, colliding with a wall and a traffic light. (kildarenow.com)
- whatThe defendant was arrested the following morning, approximately ten hours later. (kildarenow.com)
- whatA garda was allegedly dragged along a road by a car. (kildarenow.com)
- whatThe garda allegedly suffered serious head injuries after trying to talk to the accused. (kildarenow.com)
- whatA garda was dragged about 40 metres along a road after a motorist resisted having his car seized. (rte.ie)
- whatA garda suffered serious head injuries after being dragged about 40 metres along a road after a motorist resisted having his car seized. (thejournal.ie)
- whatA garda was dragged around 40 metres along a road after a motorist resisted having his car seized. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe incident took place at Barberstown, near Straffan, in north Kildare. (kildarenow.com)
- whereThe incident happened at Barberstown, near Straffan. (kildarenow.com)
- whereThe incident took place at Barberstown, Co Kildare. (rte.ie)
- whereThe incident happened at Barberstown, Co Kildare. (thejournal.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe incident occurred on 26 August 2022 at 11.45pm. (kildarenow.com)
- whenThe alleged offences took place on August 26, 2022. (kildarenow.com)
- whenThe incident happened on 22 August 2022. (rte.ie, thejournal.ie)
- whenThe incident happened on August 22, 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeThe defence said the driving was reckless but fuelled by panic. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationHe was arrested in Straffan the following morning after a witness reported him. (rte.ie)
- investigationForensic examination linked a thumbprint on the driver's wheel to him, and his phone was found in the vehicle. (rte.ie)
- investigationAsimionesei was arrested in Straffan the following morning after a witness reported him. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationA thumbprint found on the driver’s wheel was matched to Asimionesei after forensic examination, and his phone was found in the vehicle. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationAsimionesei was arrested in Straffan the following morning after being reported by a witness. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeHe faces allegations of dangerous driving, driving without insurance, and no driving licence. (kildarenow.com)
- chargeHe faces allegations of dangerous driving, driving without insurance and driving without a licence. (kildarenow.com)
- chargeThe accused pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and endangerment. (rte.ie)
- chargeHe was also charged with driving without insurance and having no driving licence. (rte.ie, thejournal.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- chargeAsimionesei pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and endangerment. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeHe pleaded guilty to a charge of dangerous driving and endangerment. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe defendant was refused bail in both the district court and the high court. (kildarenow.com)
- courtThe case file is with the Director of Public Prosecutions. (kildarenow.com)
- courtThe defendant was remanded in custody. (kildarenow.com)
- courtNaas District Court was told of the case on an earlier date. (kildarenow.com)
- courtHe is currently remanded in custody. (kildarenow.com)
- courtJudge Desmond Zaidan sent the case forward to the next sittings of Naas Circuit Criminal Court, which will commence on June 20. (kildarenow.com)
- courtThe guilty plea was entered at Naas Circuit Criminal Court. (rte.ie)
- courtHe had been disqualified from driving at the time of the offence. (rte.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe guilty plea was entered at a sitting of Naas Circuit Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie)
- courtAsimionesei pleaded guilty at a sitting of Naas Circuit Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtSentencing was adjourned to allow time to consider a probation report. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceSentencing was adjourned until Friday to allow consideration of a probation report. (rte.ie)
- sentenceJudge Martina Baxter adjourned sentencing to allow time to consider a probation report. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe accused told gardaí he had not been driving the vehicle at any time. (rte.ie)
- otherThe garda suffered concussion and needed 15 staples in a head wound. (rte.ie, thejournal.ie)
- otherThe accused had brought €2,000 to court for his victim. (rte.ie)
- otherThe accused has 22 previous convictions, mostly for theft and road traffic offences. (rte.ie)
- otherAsimionesei had been disqualified from driving at the time of the offence. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe injured garda resigned from the force the previous October, although not solely on medical grounds. (thejournal.ie)
- otherAsimionesei had 22 previous convictions, mostly for theft and road traffic offences. (thejournal.ie)
- otherAsimionesei had brought €2,000 to court for his victim. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe garda suffered concussion after falling back onto the road from the moving vehicle. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe garda needed 15 staples in a wound to his head. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe garda resigned from the force the following October, though not solely on medical grounds. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 18 Jan2024Garda dragged 40m along road after motorist resisted car seizure, court hears
Reports a guilty plea at Naas Circuit Criminal Court, the garda's injuries and resignation, and that sentencing was adjourned for a probation report.
convicted, George Richard Asimionesei, 23, male, namedGeorge Richard Asimioneseivictim, Gerard Kennedy, male, irish (judged from name)Gerard Kennedy - 18 Jan2024Garda suffered serious head injuries after being dragged along road by motorist, court hears
Reports the guilty plea at Naas Circuit Criminal Court on 18 January 2024, the injuries to the garda, the arrest and forensic evidence, the defence submissions, and that sentencing was adjourned for a probation report.
victim, Gerard Kennedy, irish (judged from name)Gerard Kennedyconvicted, George Richard Asimionesei, 23, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)George Richard Asimionesei - 18 Jan2024Sentencing adjourned in Kildare dangerous driving case
Reports the guilty plea at Naas Circuit Criminal Court, the court's account of the incident and the accused's background, and that sentencing was adjourned until Friday for a probation report.
convicted, George Richard Asimionesei, 23, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)George Richard Asimioneseivictim, Gerard Kennedy, male, irish (judged from name)Gerard Kennedy - 9 Jun2023UPDATE: Man accused of injuring garda has case sent forward for trial
Reports that the case against Asimionesei was sent forward for trial to the Naas Circuit Criminal Court, which sits from June 20. It gives his age as 22 and says he is remanded in custody. It names the alleged offences as dangerous driving, driving without insurance and driving without a licence, and gives the alleged date as August 26, 2022. The existing case records 22 August 2022, and this article does not name the garda.
accused, George Richard Asimionesei, 22, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)George Richard Asimioneseivictim - 29 Mar2023KILDARE: Garda 'was dragged along road by car'
Court appearance at Naas District Court by videolink; Sgt Philip Taylor gave details of the incident; defendant remanded in custody; file with the DPP.
suspect, George Richard Asimionesei, 20, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)George Richard Asimioneseivictim, male