Ireland Teen pleads guilty over stolen car chase on M50 and wrong-way driving
A 17-year-old drove a stolen Toyota Aqua in a chase on the M50 and N3 in County Dublin on 21 March 2024 while trying to dodge arrest, including driving the wrong way up a slip road and pulling a handbrake turn on the M50. He was arrested after abandoning the car at the Ballymun exit when other motorists shouted where he was running. At a court hearing reported on 31 January 2025 he pleaded guilty to driving a stolen car, two counts of endangerment of life and five charges of dangerous driving, and he was not remanded in custody because the juvenile detention centre had no space for him. The judge referred him to the Probation Service for a pre-sentence report, and the latest development is that he is scheduled to appear in court again in February, pending sentencing.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court31 Jan
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A 17-year-old drove a stolen car in a chase on the M50 and N3 while trying to dodge arrest.
- He drove the wrong way up a slip road against oncoming traffic while attempting to merge with the M50.
- He pulled a handbrake turn on the M50.
- When
- The incident happened on 21 March 2024.
- Where
- The incident took place in County Dublin on the M50 and N3.
- Cause
- The chase was an attempt to dodge arrest.
- Investigation
- A garda recognised him driving a Toyota Aqua that had been stolen the previous night.
- The pursuit ended when he abandoned the car at the Ballymun exit and was arrested after other motorists shouted where he was running.
- Other details
- A garda accepted that he was cooperative on arrest.
- Charges
- He pleaded guilty to driving a stolen car, two counts of endangerment of life and five charges of dangerous driving.
- In court
- He was not remanded in custody pending sentencing because the State's main juvenile detention centre had no space for him.
- Sources differ on bail: one says the judge determined his bail should be revoked after he repeatedly broke bail terms, including a curfew, while another says his bail terms remain in place.
- The judge referred him to the Probation Service to prepare a pre-sentence report.
- Sentence
- No sentence has been reported yet, and he is scheduled to appear in court again in February.
13 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA teenager drove a stolen car in a chase on the M50 and N3 while trying to dodge arrest. (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe teenager drove the wrong way up a slip road against oncoming traffic attempting to merge with the M50. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe teenager pulled a handbrake turn on the M50. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe incident happened on March 21, last year. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationA garda recognised the boy driving a Toyota Aqua that had been stolen the previous night. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationThe pursuit ended when the teenager abandoned the car at the Ballymun exit and was arrested after other motorists shouted where he was running. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeThe teenager pleaded guilty to driving a stolen car, two counts of endangerment of life and five charges of dangerous driving. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe teenager avoided being remanded in custody pending sentencing because the juvenile detention centre had no space for him. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe judge determined that the teenager's bail should be revoked after he repeatedly broke bail terms, including a curfew. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe teenager's bail terms remain in place. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe judge referred the teenager to the Probation Service to prepare a pre-sentence report. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe teenager is scheduled to appear in court again in February. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe garda accepted the boy was cooperative on arrest. (thejournal.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 31 Jan2025Teen pulled handbrake turn on M50 and drove wrong way up slip roads in stolen car, court hears
Court report on the guilty plea by a 17-year-old to driving a stolen car, endangerment and dangerous driving on the M50 and N3, with details of the chase, arrest, bail and the pre-sentence report referral.
accused, 17, male