Thursday 29 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. 10660Taking of vehicles, attempted theft and dangerous driving · Co. Dublin

Serial car thief jailed for nine years over Dublin driving offences

Carl McGuinness, a 30-year-old man of no fixed abode, was involved in car thefts, attempted thefts and dangerous driving incidents in Dublin between August 2024 and May 2025, affecting three people including a tourist. The incidents included taking a Toyota Yaris from a tourist at the Gresham Hotel car park, a crash after he hit a Dublin Bus, and an attempted car robbery at Main Street, Finglas, on 5 October 2024 while he was allegedly armed with an axe. He was arrested after several of the incidents and pleaded guilty to a string of offences at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, and Judge Martina Baxter then jailed him for nine years, with the final year of a ten-year sentence suspended, backdated to May 2025, and disqualified him from driving for ten years. Reports on the sentencing are dated 3 March 2026 (thejournal.ie) and 4 March 2026 (RTE).

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced1 Mar
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Carl McGuinness, 30, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to a string of driving-related offences in Dublin.
  • The three victims included a tourist whose Toyota Yaris was taken from the Gresham Hotel car park.
  • A Ducati motorbike valued at €5,000 was stolen outside Peter's Pub in Dublin 2 on 28 August 2024 and later found at Mercer Flats with its gears and wires taken.
  • A stolen Audi was driven erratically and crashed into a van in Finglas, and a handbag and phone were in the car, with the phone recovered and the handbag not.
Where
The Yaris was taken from the city centre car park of the Gresham Hotel, Dublin.
Cause
During the chase he hit a Dublin Bus, and the stolen Yaris was later found crashed on Aston Quay and written off at a cost of €27,000.
Weapon
He was allegedly armed with an axe when he attempted to rob a car from a man at Main Street, Finglas, in the early hours of 5 October 2024.
When
  • A car was stolen outside a house in Ballybough, Dublin 3, on 24 May 2025, the final incident in the case.
  • Reports dated 3 March 2026 (thejournal.ie) and 4 March 2026 (RTE) describe the sentencing.
Investigation
He was arrested shortly after the Finglas attempt, apprehended in Dublin 1 with crack cocaine, and arrested at Cappagh Avenue while intoxicated.
Charges
He pleaded guilty to unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, theft of a handbag and phone, failing to report an accident, two counts of dangerous driving, driving while intoxicated and possession of cocaine.
In court
The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where Judge Martina Baxter called him a recidivist who showed clear disdain for other road users and had no regard for the harm he was causing.
Other details
  • He has 106 previous convictions, 95 of them for road traffic offences, and was on bail for some of the offending when a bench warrant had been issued.
  • Defence counsel said he had a long history of drug addiction.
Sentence
He received a ten-year sentence with the final year suspended on conditions, leaving nine years to serve, backdated to May 2025, and was disqualified from driving for ten years.
40 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatHe hit a Dublin Bus during the Gresham Hotel car theft incident. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe stolen Yaris was found crashed on Aston Quay and had to be written off, at a cost of €27,000. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe stolen Audi was driven erratically and crashed into a van in Finglas. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatA serial car thief was jailed for nine years for multiple driving offences. (rte.ie)
  • whatA €5,000 Ducati motorbike was stolen from outside Peter's Pub in Dublin 2 and later found with its gears and wires taken. (rte.ie)
  • whatMcGuinness stole a Toyota Yaris from a tourist at the Gresham Hotel car park about three months later. (rte.ie)
  • whatA handbag and phone were in the stolen Audi, and the phone was recovered but the handbag was not. (rte.ie)
  • whereA Ducati motorbike was stolen outside Peter's Pub in Dublin 2 and later found at Mercer Flats. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereHe stole a Toyota Yaris from a tourist at the Gresham Hotel city centre car park. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenHe pleaded guilty to allowing himself to be carried on a motorbike without the owner's consent on 28 August 2024 in Dublin city centre. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenHe attempted to rob a car from a man at Main Street in Finglas in the early hours of 5 October 2024. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe final incident took place on 24 May 2025 in Ballybough, Dublin 3, when a car was stolen outside a house. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe final incident took place on 24 May 2025 in Ballybough, Dublin 3, when an Audi was stolen. (rte.ie)
  • causeHe hit a Dublin Bus during the chase, and the stolen car was later found crashed on Aston Quay. (rte.ie)
  • weaponHe was armed with an axe during the Finglas incident. (thejournal.ie)
  • weaponHe was armed with an axe during the Finglas attempted robbery. (rte.ie)
  • investigationHe was arrested shortly after the Finglas attempt. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationHe was apprehended in Dublin 1 and found to be in possession of crack cocaine. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationMcGuinness was arrested at Cappagh Avenue and found to be intoxicated. (rte.ie)
  • chargeHe pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine among other offences. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeMcGuinness pleaded guilty to a string of offences involving taking vehicles, attempted theft and dangerous driving in Dublin between August 2024 and May 2025. (rte.ie)
  • chargeMcGuinness pleaded guilty to allowing himself to be carried on a motorbike without the owner's consent in Dublin city centre on 28 August 2024. (rte.ie)
  • chargeMcGuinness pleaded guilty to attempting to rob a car from a man at Main Street in Finglas on 5 October 2024. (rte.ie)
  • chargeOn 13 January 2025 he pleaded guilty to offences from the Gresham Hotel incident, including unlawful taking of a car and possession of cocaine. (rte.ie)
  • chargeHe pleaded guilty to unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, theft of a handbag and phone, failing to report an accident, two counts of dangerous driving and driving while intoxicated. (rte.ie)
  • courtHe pleaded guilty to vehicle taking, attempted theft and dangerous driving in Dublin between August 2024 and May 2025. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe judge described him as a recidivist who showed clear disdain for other road users. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (rte.ie)
  • courtJudge Martina Baxter said McGuinness had no regard for the harm he was causing. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceMcGuinness was jailed for nine years for multiple driving offences. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge imposed a 10-year sentence, backdated to May 2025. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceThe final year of the sentence was suspended on conditions. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceHe was disqualified from driving for 10 years. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Baxter handed down a ten-year sentence, backdated to May 2025. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceThe final year was suspended on conditions, and McGuinness was disqualified from driving for ten years. (rte.ie)
  • otherHe has 106 previous convictions, 95 of which are for road traffic offences. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherHe was on bail for some of the offending and a bench warrant had been issued. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherMcGuinness has 106 previous convictions, 95 of which are for road traffic offences. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe stolen car was written off at a cost of €27,000. (rte.ie)
  • otherDefence counsel said McGuinness had a long history of drug addiction. (rte.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 3 Mar2026
    Sentencedrte.ie, first report
    Serial car thief jailed for nine years

    Sentencing report covering several incidents by the same defendant between August 2024 and May 2025, all heard together in one court case. No existing case matches.

    convicted, Carl McGuinness, 30, male, named, irish (judged from name)Carl McGuinnessvictim, malevictim, malevictim, female
  2. 1 Mar2026
    Sentencedthejournal.ie, first report
    Axe-wielding serial car thief with 106 previous convictions is jailed for nine years

    Covers the sentencing of one accused on several linked incidents from August 2024 to May 2025, including an axe-armed attempted car theft and a car stolen from a tourist.

    convicted, Carl McGuinness, 30, male, named, irish (judged from name)Carl McGuinness