Saturday 31 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. 18267Theft and driving offences · Co. Longford

Man who 'went on a spree' jailed for five months at Longford District Court

John Hynes, a man aged 25 of Tuam, Galway, was charged over a series of thefts and driving offences in Longford and nearby counties on November 26 and 27. Gardaí stopped a stolen Ford Focus driven by a disqualified driver at Killashee on the evening of November 27, and CCTV from service stations identified him in the thefts. Hynes pleaded guilty to six charges at Longford District Court, and in February 2024 Judge Bernadette Owens imposed a five-month custodial sentence, a 10-year driving ban and a concurrent five-month sentence for refusing a blood sample. Recognisance was set in case of an appeal.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced15 Feb
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
John Hynes, aged 25, of Tuam, Galway, pleaded guilty to six charges at Longford District Court.
Where
The thefts took place at service stations in Moate, Athlone and Ardfert, Kerry, and the driving offences occurred in Killashee, County Longford.
When
The thefts were alleged to have taken place on November 26 and November 27.
Investigation
  • Gardaí on patrol saw a Ford Focus with a distorted number plate in Killashee at 8:50pm on November 27.
  • The driver was found to be disqualified, and a search showed the car had been stolen in Galway two days before the stop.
  • CCTV footage from the service stations identified Hynes as the person involved in the thefts.
Other details
  • Hynes said he bought the car for €2,000 in Limerick two days earlier.
  • The court report was dated 15 February 2024 in one record and published 16 February 2024.
Charges
  • Hynes was charged with stealing diesel worth €50 from Circle K in Moate and diesel worth €30 from Applegreen Retail Park in Athlone.
  • Hynes was charged with stealing food and diesel costing €52.56 from Horgan's Centra in Ardfert, Kerry.
  • Hynes was charged with driving without a licence and without insurance at Templeton Glebe, Killashee, and with refusing to provide a specimen at Longford Garda station.
In court
Hynes's barrister said he had been off drugs and alcohol for nine months before the incident, and the court heard he had previous convictions including drug possession and assault.
Sentence
  • Judge Bernadette Owens imposed a five-month custodial sentence, and a further five-month concurrent sentence was imposed for refusing a blood sample.
  • Hynes was given a 10-year driving ban for the no insurance charge.
  • Recognisance was set in case of an appeal: Hynes's own bond of €250 and an independent surety of €1,000.
18 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatJohn Hynes pleaded guilty to six charges at Longford District Court. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenGardaí on patrol saw a Ford Focus with a distorted number plate in Killashee at 8:50pm on November 27. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationThe driver was found to be a disqualified driver. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationA search showed the car had been stolen in Galway two days before the stop. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationCCTV footage from the service stations identified Hynes as the person involved in the thefts. (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeHynes was charged with stealing diesel worth €50 from Circle K in Moate on November 26. (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeHynes was charged with stealing diesel worth €30 from Applegreen Retail Park in Athlone. (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeHynes was charged with stealing food and diesel costing €52.56 from Horgan's Centra in Ardfert, Kerry. (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeHynes was charged with driving without a licence and insurance at Templeton Glebe, Killashee. (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeHynes was charged with refusing to provide a specimen at Longford Garda station. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Owens imposed a five-month custodial sentence for the no insurance charge. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceA further five-month concurrent sentence was imposed for refusing to give a blood sample. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceHynes was given a 10-year driving ban for the no insurance charge. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceRecognisance was set in case of an appeal: Hynes's own bond of €250 and an independent surety of €1,000. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherHynes said he bought the car for €2,000 in Limerick two days earlier. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherHynes refused to give a sample of blood. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe court heard Hynes had previous convictions including for drug possession and assault. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherHynes's barrister said he had been off drugs and alcohol for nine months before the incident. (longfordleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 15 Feb2024
    Sentencedlongfordleader.ie, first report
    Man who 'went on a spree' arrested in Longford and jailed for five months

    Court report on the sentencing of John Hynes at Longford District Court. It gives the full list of charges, the guilty plea, the stop and stolen-car details, the sentence and the driving ban.

    convicted, John Hynes, 25, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Hynes