Sunday 1 November 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. 0775Unauthorised carrying, road traffic collision · Co. Dublin · 17 Jul 2024

Teen sentenced for unauthorised carrying in fatal Baldoyle hit and run

Michael Farrelly, a 40-year-old man, was struck and killed by a stolen Hyundai Kona while crossing the Coast Road in Baldoyle, Dublin, at around 1am on 17 July 2024. The car, stolen from outside a house in Malahide the previous evening, was being driven by a teenager with Calum McDonagh as passenger, and both fled the scene after gardaí had followed the vehicle for 4.2km. Two teenagers were arrested in September 2024 and released without charge, and an inquest opened in April 2025 confirmed the victim's identity through DNA profiling. In June 2026, McDonagh, 19, pleaded guilty to unauthorised carrying and was sentenced to two years and six months, with the final six months suspended for a year.

  1. Reported23 Jul
  2. Arrested9 Sep
    4 reports
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court7 Apr
    2 reports
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced19 Jun
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Michael Farrelly, a 40-year-old man, was struck and killed by a stolen Hyundai Kona while crossing the Coast Road in Baldoyle, Dublin, at around 1am on 17 July 2024.
Where
The collision occurred on the Coast Road in Baldoyle, Dublin 13, approximately 50 metres from the housing estate where Farrelly lived in Sutton.
When
The collision happened at around 1am on Wednesday 17 July 2024; the Hyundai Kona had been stolen from outside a house in Malahide the previous evening.
Cause
The victim was struck by the car which failed to remain at the scene, and the driver and passenger fled the vehicle while trying to evade gardaí who had been following the car.
Investigation
  • Gardaí had followed the white Hyundai for 4.2km after it failed to stop at blue lights in Portmarnock, and saw it hit something before a person was found on the ground.
  • Two teenagers were arrested in September 2024 and both were released without charge; a file was prepared for the DPP for the first and for the Garda Youth Diversion Office for the second.
  • DNA profiling was required to identify the victim due to the extent of his injuries, confirming he was the biological son of Philip Farrelly.
In court
An inquest opened at Dublin District Coroner's Court on 7 April 2025 was adjourned to 6 October 2025 under Section 25(1) of the Coroners Act.
Charges
Calum McDonagh, 19, pleaded guilty to knowingly allowing himself to be carried in the vehicle without the consent of the owner.
Sentence
Judge Orla Crowe sentenced McDonagh to two years and six months, suspending the final six months for a year due to his youth, adverse childhood, and neurodiversity.
Other details
  • The driver of the car, believed to be a key member of the Lucky Dip gang and 18 at the time, is also before the courts.
  • McDonagh had 91 previous convictions including for unauthorised taking of vehicles and unauthorised carrying, and was disqualified from driving at the time of the incident.
77 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA pedestrian was struck and killed by a car that failed to remain at the scene. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe victim, Michael 'Mikey' Farrelly, was in his 40s. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatA young man was arrested in connection with a fatal hit and run in Baldoyle in July. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe victim, who was in his 40s, was pronounced dead at the scene. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatA man in his late teens was arrested in connection with the collision. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatMichael Farrelly was knocked down by a stolen car that failed to remain at the scene. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThere was interaction between gardaí and the occupants of the stolen car in the hours before the victim was knocked down. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA teenager was arrested in connection with a Dublin hit and run that killed a man in his 40s. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe pedestrian, a man in his 40s, was fatally injured. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe incident was a fatal hit-and-run. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe vehicle involved was a Hyundai Kona. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe Hyundai Kona was stolen the evening before the fatal crash from outside a house in Malahide. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatHe had been attending Riverdance at the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin with relatives before going for drinks in a local pub. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • whatMichael Farrelly was killed when struck by a stolen vehicle on Coast Road, Baldoyle. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe car had been stolen the previous evening from outside a house in Malahide. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe victim was pronounced dead at the scene. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatMichael Farrelly, 40, died after being struck by a stolen vehicle while crossing the Coast Road in Baldoyle. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatCalum McDonagh, 19, pleaded guilty to knowingly allowing himself to be carried in the vehicle without the consent of the owner. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatGardaí noticed a white Hyundai being driven by a youth with another youth in the passenger seat along the coast road in Portmarnock. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatGardaí followed the car for 4.2km after it failed to stop at blue lights. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe gardaí saw the vehicle hit something but it continued driving, and they then saw a person on the ground. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatMichael Farrelly was pronounced dead at the scene. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatMcDonagh was not home when gardaí arrived and had been picked up by his mother in the early hours. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatCCTV showed McDonagh travelling in the car about 10 minutes before the incident. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatMcDonagh presented himself with his mother at Clontarf Garda station and told gardaí he was deeply sorry. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatMcDonagh said he knew they had hit someone and had seen the man hit the windscreen. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe collision happened on the coast road in Baldoyle. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe collision occurred on the coast road in Baldoyle, Dublin 13. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whereThe incident occurred on the coast road in Baldoyle. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereMr Farrelly was returning to his home in Sutton when he was struck. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereMr Farrelly was returning to his home in Sutton after a night out with his family. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whereHe was struck around 50 metres from the entrance to the housing estate where he lived. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whereThe Hyundai was discovered 500m away on Willie Nolan Road. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe collision happened before 1am on 17 July 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe incident happened shortly before 1am on Wednesday, 17 July, on the Coast Road. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whenThe incident occurred in the early hours of 17 July on the coast road in Baldoyle, Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe victim was knocked down and killed at about 1am while walking home alone. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe collision was reported to gardaí on Wednesday, 17 July, shortly before 1am. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe incident occurred in the early hours of July 17th. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe victim was struck and killed at about 1am while walking home alone. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe incident occurred at around 1am on 17 July 2024. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • whenMcDonagh was formally charged in October 2025, before he turned 19. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe victim was knocked down by a car, which failed to remain at the scene. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationOfficers believe two men, a driver and a passenger, fled the vehicle after the collision while trying to evade gardaí. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe man is detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Garda station in Dublin. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationA man in his late teens was arrested and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Garda station in Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationOfficers believed that a driver and a passenger fled the vehicle after the collision. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí arrested a man in his late teens on Monday 9 September, almost two months after the collision. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe arrested man is detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda station in Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí said investigations are ongoing. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationA man in his late teens was arrested in early September in connection with the incident. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationA second man, also in his late teens, was arrested as part of the investigation. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe second man was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda station in Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe second man has been released without charge, and a file will be prepared for the Garda Youth Diversion Office. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe first arrested individual was released without charge and a file is being prepared for the DPP. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationInvestigations into the fatal incident are ongoing. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationDNA profiling showed the likelihood the victim was the biological son was 7.2 million times more likely than being an unknown unrelated individual. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThere was one particular line of inquiry delaying the submission of a file to the DPP. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationDNA profiling was required to identify the victim due to the extent of his injuries. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationFSI forensic scientist Dearbhla McGovern obtained a blood sample from the victim and compared it with one from his father Philip Farrelly. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationDNA profiling showed the likelihood the victim was the biological son was 7.2 million times more likely than an unknown unrelated individual. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationA number of teenagers including the suspected ringleader of the Lucky Dip gang were arrested but released without charge. (dublinlive.ie)
  • courtDetective Inspector Donncha Maguire applied for an adjournment under Section 25(1) of the Coroners Act. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • courtCoroner Clare Keane granted the adjournment and listed the case for further mention on October 6. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Orla Crowe imposed a sentence of two years and six months, suspending the final six months for a year due to his youth, adverse childhood, and neurodiversity. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe victim was the son of Philip and the late Sylvia Farrelly from Sutton, and brother of Conor, Lucia, Philip, Noirín and Tom. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe car involved in the collision did not remain at the scene. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherGardaí had a prior interaction with the vehicle, but it escaped officers before the collision. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe 'Lucky Dip' gang is a loose network of around 60 teenagers based in Ballyfermot, Inchicore and Blanchardstown who specialise in car theft. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • otherConor Farrelly said at least one person in the car was on bail and under curfew at the time of the accident. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • otherThe driver and passenger are suspected of being members of the Lucky Dip criminal gang. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherA teenager from Blanchardstown, a key member of the Lucky Dip gang, who was 18 at the time, is believed to have been driving the stolen car. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherAt his funeral mass, mourners heard he had recorded an album of his own music shortly before his death. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherThe driver of the car is also before the courts. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherMcDonagh had 91 previous convictions, including for unauthorised taking of vehicles and unauthorised carrying. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHe had six convictions for dangerous driving and was disqualified from driving at the time. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherSince the incident, McDonagh committed 25 offences and received two jail terms. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 19 Jun2026
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Teenage passenger in stolen car that killed man crossing road jailed for two years

    Reports the sentencing of Calum McDonagh for the unauthorised carrying offence arising from the fatal collision, including details of the pursuit, his 91 previous convictions, and the victim impact statement from the deceased's brother.

    victim, Michael Farrelly, 40, male, irish (judged from name)Michael Farrellyconvicted, Calum McDonagh, 19, male, named, irish (judged from name)Calum McDonagh
  2. 7 Apr2025
    In courtdublinlive.ie, follow-up
    Dublin man killed in hit-and-run had to be identified by DNA, inquest hears

    Inquest opened at Dublin District Coroner's Court; DNA identification evidence heard; adjourned to October 6 under Section 25(1) of the Coroners Act to allow Garda investigation to progress; details of the Lucky Dip gang and the stolen Hyundai Kona provided.

    victim, Michael "Mikey" Farrelly, 40, male, irish (judged from name)Michael "Mikey" Farrellysuspect, 18, malesuspect, male
  3. 7 Apr2025
    In courtirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Man killed in Dublin hit-and-run by Lucky Dip gang had to be identified by DNA

    Inquest opened; DNA identification confirmed; vehicle history and Lucky Dip gang details revealed; adjourned to October 6 pending DPP file

    victim, 40, male, irish (judged from name)suspect, 18, malesuspect, male
  4. 26 Sep2024
    Arrestedirishtimes.com, first report
    Second teenager arrested in connection with fatal Baldoyle hit-and-run

    Reports a second arrest over the July 2024 fatal hit-and-run. The first teenager, arrested in early September, was released without charge and a file is being prepared for the DPP.

    victim, Michael 'Mikey' Farrelly, 40s, male, irish (judged from name)Michael 'Mikey' Farrellysuspect, late teens, malesuspect, late teens, male
  5. 9 Sep2024
    Arrestedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Teen arrested in connection with Dublin hit-and-run that killed pedestrian

    Reports the arrest of a man in his late teens on Monday 9 September 2024 under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. Gives more detail on the collision, including the prior Garda interaction with the vehicle and the belief that the driver and a passenger fled.

    victim, 40s, malesuspect, late teens, male
  6. 9 Sep2024
    Arrestedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Teenager arrested over hit-and-run in Co Dublin that killed pedestrian

    Reports the arrest of a man in his late teens under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984; provides details that the victim was walking home alone at about 1am, the car was stolen, and there had been interaction between gardaí and the car's occupants in the hours before the incident.

    victim, Michael Farrelly, 40s, male, irish (judged from name)Michael Farrellysuspect, late teens, male
  7. 9 Sep2024
    Arresteddublinlive.ie, follow-up
    Teen arrested in connection with fatal hit and run in Baldoyle

    Reports the arrest of a man in his late teens in connection with the fatal Baldoyle hit and run; he was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Garda station in Dublin.

    victim, 40s, malesuspect, late teens, male
  8. 23 Jul2024
    Reportedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Tributes pour in for 'kind and caring' man killed in Dublin hit-and-run

    Tribute article for the victim, adding the victim's name, age range, the location, and the belief that two men fled the vehicle while trying to evade gardaí. No arrests are mentioned.

    victim, Michael 'Mikey' Farrelly, 40s, male, irish (judged from name)Michael 'Mikey' Farrellysuspect, malesuspect, male