Ireland Case No. 6565Manslaughter · Co. Dublin · 23 Jan 2022
Man sentenced to 9.5 years over manslaughter of Ian McDonnell, thrown from car bonnet in Dublin
Ian McDonnell was thrown from the bonnet of his car onto the road on 23 January 2022 on Robinhood Road, Dublin 22, after Adam Murphy, a 22-year-old man, stole the car while Mr McDonnell was at work and drove off with him on it. Mr McDonnell died on 28 January 2022 at Tallaght Hospital. Keith McCormick Smith, 22, was arrested on 14 February 2022 and Adam Murphy on 16 February 2022. Murphy pleaded guilty to manslaughter and other theft offences, and Smith pleaded guilty to theft and attempted theft offences without being charged with manslaughter. On 12 February 2024 at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Dara Hayes sentenced Murphy to 12 years with the final two and a half years suspended, an effective term of nine and a half years, and Smith to three years and two months with the final 12 months suspended.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced12 Feb
3 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Ian McDonnell was thrown from the bonnet of his car onto the roadway and died shortly afterwards at Tallaght Hospital.
- Adam Murphy pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Ian McDonnell.
- Where
- The car was stolen while its owner was at his business, Ozone Car Sales, on Robinhood Road, Dublin 22, which one source places in Clondalkin.
- When
- The incident is dated 23 January 2022, and the articles say Murphy pleaded guilty to manslaughter on 23 January 2022.
- Mr McDonnell died on 28 January 2022.
- Cause
- Murphy stole Mr McDonnell's car while he was at work and drove off with Mr McDonnell on the bonnet, throwing him off as he drove away.
- The two men had been committing a spree of car robberies and planned to sell the cars.
- Investigation
- Keith McCormick Smith was arrested on 14 February 2022.
- Adam Murphy was arrested on 16 February 2022.
- Charges
- Murphy pleaded guilty to manslaughter, two counts of attempting to take a vehicle, three counts of stealing three vehicles, attempting to steal property from a vehicle, stealing a push bike, and possession of stolen property, a car key, at his address on 8 February 2022.
- Smith pleaded guilty to theft and attempted theft offences and had not been charged with manslaughter.
- In court
- Judge Dara Hayes sentenced the two men at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 12 February 2024, describing Mr McDonnell as callously killed by Murphy and treating the offending as premeditated and carried out for financial gain.
- Mitigating factors included early guilty pleas, remorse and personal circumstances, and Murphy has 27 previous District Court convictions while Smith has 16.
- Sentence
- Murphy was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment with the final two and a half years suspended on strict conditions, an effective term of nine and a half years, and was disqualified from driving for 12 years.
- Smith was sentenced to three years and two months' imprisonment with the final 12 months suspended, and was disqualified from driving for seven years.
49 statements extracted from the articles
- whatAdam Murphy pleaded guilty to one count of manslaughter of Ian McDonnell. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMr McDonnell was thrown from the bonnet onto the roadway. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMr McDonnell was thrown from the bonnet of the car onto the roadway. (irishtimes.com)
- whatAdam Murphy pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Ian McDonnell. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatMr McDonnell was thrown from the bonnet onto the roadway and died shortly afterwards. (dublinlive.ie)
- whereThe car theft took place at Ozone Car Sales on Robinhood Road, Dublin 22. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe car was stolen while the owner was at his business, Ozone Car Sales, on Robinhood Road, Dublin 22. (irishtimes.com)
- whereIan McDonnell had stopped at his business, Ozone Car Sales, on Robinhood Road, Dublin 22. (dublinlive.ie)
- whenIan McDonnell died on January 28, 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenMurphy pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Ian McDonnell on January 23rd, 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- whenMr McDonnell died on January 28, 2022. (dublinlive.ie)
- causeMurphy stole Ian McDonnell's car while he was at work and drove off with Mr McDonnell on the bonnet. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeMurphy killed the owner by throwing him from the bonnet as he drove off. (irishtimes.com)
- causeMurphy stole Mr McDonnell's car while he was at work and drove off with Mr McDonnell on the bonnet. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationKeith McCormick Smith was arrested on February 14, 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationAdam Murphy was arrested on February 16, 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationMurphy was arrested on February 16, 2022. (dublinlive.ie)
- chargeMurphy pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting to take a vehicle, three counts of stealing three vehicles, one count of attempting to steal property from a vehicle and one count of stealing a push bike. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeMurphy also pleaded guilty to possession of stolen property, a car key, at his address on February 8th, 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeCo-accused Keith McCormick Smith pleaded guilty to theft and attempted theft offences in Dublin on January 23rd, 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeMcCormick Smith had not been charged with manslaughter. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeCo-accused Keith McCormick Smith pleaded guilty to several vehicle theft and attempted theft offences. (dublinlive.ie)
- courtMurphy pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting to take a vehicle, three counts of stealing three vehicles, and other theft-related offences. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtJudge Dara Hayes described the death as Ian McDonnell being callously killed by Adam Murphy. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtMitigating factors included early guilty pleas, remorse and personal circumstances. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtJudge Hayes said Keith McCormick Smith was involved in a chain of events that led to the death of an innocent man, although he had not been charged with manslaughter. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtSentencing took place at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Dara Hayes sentenced the two men. (dublinlive.ie)
- sentenceAdam Murphy was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment, with the final two and a half years suspended on strict conditions. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceAdam Murphy was jailed for nine and a half years. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceKeith McCormick Smith was sentenced to three years and two months' imprisonment, with the final twelve months suspended. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceAdam Murphy was disqualified from driving for 12 years. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceKeith McCormick Smith was disqualified from driving for seven years. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceMurphy was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment, with the final two and a half years suspended on strict conditions. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceMcCormick Smith was sentenced to three years and two months' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceMurphy was disqualified from driving for 12 years and McCormick Smith for seven years. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceMurphy was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment, with the final two and a half years suspended. (dublinlive.ie)
- sentenceMcCormick Smith was sentenced to three years and two months' imprisonment, with the final twelve months suspended. (dublinlive.ie)
- sentenceMurphy was disqualified from driving for 12 years. (dublinlive.ie)
- sentenceMcCormick-Smith was disqualified from driving for seven years. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherThe two men had been committing a spree of car robberies and planned to sell the cars. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherAdam Murphy has 27 previous convictions, all from the District Court. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMr McDonnell died shortly afterwards at Tallaght Hospital. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe judge said Ian McDonnell had been callously killed by Adam Murphy. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMurphy has 27 previous District Court convictions and McCormick Smith has 16. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMembers of Mr McDonnell's family made victim impact statements at an earlier sentence hearing. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe judge considered the offending premeditated and carried out for financial gain. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherEarly guilty pleas were treated as a mitigating factor. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherThe DPP said the offence lies in the higher sentencing range of 10 to 15 years. (dublinlive.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 12 Feb2024Car thief who killed much loved dad thrown from bonnet jailed
Reports the sentencing of Adam Murphy and Keith McCormick Smith, with details of the offences, aggravating and mitigating factors, sentences and driving disqualifications.
convicted, Adam Murphy, 22, male, named, irish (judged from name)Adam Murphyconvicted, Keith McCormick Smith, 22, male, named, irish (judged from name)Keith McCormick Smithvictim, Ian McDonnell, male, irish (judged from name)Ian McDonnell - 12 Feb2024Car thief who killed man by throwing him off bonnet as he drove away jailed for manslaughter
Reports the sentencing of Adam Murphy and co-accused Keith McCormick Smith, with the sentences, disqualifications and victim impact statements.
victim, Ian McDonnell, male, irish (judged from name)Ian McDonnellconvicted, Adam Murphy, 22, male, named, irish (judged from name)Adam Murphyconvicted, Keith McCormick Smith, 22, male, named, irish (judged from name)Keith McCormick Smith - 12 Feb2024Jail for car thief who killed much loved dad thrown from bonnet
Sentencing report: Murphy jailed for nine and a half years effective, Keith McCormick Smith sentenced for his role in the car thefts, both disqualified from driving. Case not in existing list.
convicted, Adam Murphy, 22, male, named, irish (judged from name)Adam Murphyconvicted, Keith McCormick Smith, 22, male, named, irish (judged from name)Keith McCormick Smithvictim, Ian McDonnell, male, irish (judged from name)Ian McDonnell