Ireland Case No. 22066Reckless endangerment; throwing, directing or propelling an ignited firework towards a person or property · Co. Longford · 25 Apr 2022
Trainee barber Dylan Smith walks free after firework incident injures garda in Edgeworthstown
Dylan Smith, 22, of Edgeworthstown, Co Longford, was sentenced under Section 1(1) of the Probation Act at Longford District Court after a firework he and friends placed in a traffic cone exploded in front of Sgt Caroline Keogh, causing burns to her upper legs and a laceration to her hand. He pleaded guilty to the firework charge and was found guilty of reckless endangerment after the judge dismissed the defence's point of law argument.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced2 Mar
3 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports41 statements extracted from the articles
- whatDylan Smith is 22 years old and lives at 65 Devine Crescent, Edgeworthstown, Co Longford. (longfordleader.ie)
- whatThey placed the firework into a traffic cone along with a piece of tissue paper. (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
- whatCCTV showed Smith lighting the tissue before running away while a friend filmed on his mobile phone. (longfordleader.ie)
- whatSgt Caroline Keogh entered the car park in a garda patrol car moments later and spotted the tissue alight on top of the cone. (longfordleader.ie)
- whatSgt Keogh moved towards the cone to extinguish the flame before it caused more damage. (longfordleader.ie)
- whatThe firework exploded directly in front of Sgt Keogh upon her approaching the cone. (longfordleader.ie)
- whatSmith has no previous convictions. (longfordleader.ie, irishtimes.com, offalyexpress.ie)
- whatSmith handed in a letter of apology to Sgt Keogh. (longfordleader.ie, irishtimes.com, offalyexpress.ie)
- whatThe blast from the firework blew Sgt Keogh's patrol car keys from her hand. (longfordleader.ie)
- whatSgt Keogh was dazed, her eyesight went black momentarily, and she had ringing in her ears. (longfordleader.ie)
- whatSgt Keogh managed to return to her car and phone her colleagues for assistance. (longfordleader.ie)
- whatSgt Keogh said her confidence was completely knocked and her anxiety increased as a result of the incident. (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
- whatSmith deliberately planted a firework inside a traffic cone that exploded in front of a female garda (irishtimes.com)
- whatSmith and two friends inadvertently came across the firework and placed it into a traffic cone with a piece of tissue paper (irishtimes.com)
- whatSmith was seen on CCTV lighting the tissue before running away while a friend filmed him with a mobile phone (irishtimes.com)
- whatSgt Keogh entered the car park in a Garda patrol car and spotted the tissue alight on top of the cone (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe blast from the firework blew the car keys out of Sgt Keogh's hand (irishtimes.com)
- whatSmith deliberately planted a firework inside a traffic cone that exploded in front of a female garda, leaving her with burns to her legs and a scar on her hand. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatSmith was seen on CCTV lighting the tissue before running away while a friend filmed on his mobile phone. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatSgt Caroline Keogh entered the car park in a garda patrol car and spotted the tissue alight on top of the cone. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatThe firework exploded unexpectedly directly in front of Sgt Keogh as she moved to extinguish the flame. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatThe blast blew Sgt Keogh's garda patrol car keys from her hand. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatSgt Keogh said she was dazed, her eyesight went black momentarily, and she heard ringing in her ears. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatSmith had previously been employed with Center Parcs but was let go due to previous press coverage of the case. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatSmith was now working as a trainee barber in Ballymote, Co Sligo. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whereThe incident occurred at Quinns Hardware Car Park, Main Street, Edgeworthstown, Co Longford. (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
- whenThe incident took place on 25 April 2022. (longfordleader.ie)
- whenSmith and two friends found the firework at around 11:30pm on the night in question. (longfordleader.ie)
- whenThe incident occurred on 25 April 2022 (irishtimes.com, offalyexpress.ie)
- whenSmith and two friends came across the firework at around 11:30pm on the night in question. (offalyexpress.ie)
- chargeSmith was charged with reckless endangerment creating a substantial risk of death or serious harm. (longfordleader.ie, irishtimes.com, offalyexpress.ie)
- chargeSmith was charged with throwing, directing or propelling an ignited firework towards a person or property. (longfordleader.ie, irishtimes.com, offalyexpress.ie)
- courtSmith pleaded guilty to the firework charge but contested the reckless endangerment charge on a point of law. (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
- courtA victim impact statement was read to the court by Inspector Declan McGlynn on behalf of Sgt Keogh. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtDefence barrister Niall Flynn argued using case law that Smith was not guilty of reckless endangerment by the terms set out in the charge. (longfordleader.ie)
- courtSmith had previously pleaded guilty to the firework charge but contested the reckless endangerment charge on a point of law (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Vincent Deane applied Section 1(1) of the Probation Act and left Smith without a criminal conviction (irishtimes.com)
- courtDefence barrister Niall Flynn argued Smith was not guilty of reckless endangerment because there was no evidence he averted his mind to a risk of death or serious injury. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherSmith had previously been employed with Center Parcs but was let go due to press coverage of the case (irishtimes.com)
- otherSmith was now a trainee barber in Ballymote, Co Sligo (irishtimes.com)
- otherSmith came to court with €2,000 in compensation which Sgt Keogh was willing to accept (irishtimes.com, offalyexpress.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 6 Mar2023Trainee barber in the Midlands who ignited firework that left garda burned and scarred walks free from court
Reports the sentencing at Longford District Court where Judge Vincent Deane dismissed the defence's point of law on reckless endangerment and applied Section 1(1) of the Probation Act. Includes victim impact statement from Sgt Keogh and details of the incident.
victim, Caroline Keogh, female, irish (judged from name)Caroline Keoghconvicted, Dylan Smith, 22, male, named, irish (judged from name)Dylan Smith - 2 Mar2023Probation for Co Longford man who injured garda with firework
Provides full details of the sentencing hearing including the victim impact statement, defence argument on the reckless endangerment charge, Judge Deane's reasoning, the €2,000 compensation, and that Smith had been let go from Center Parcs due to press coverage and was now a trainee barber in Ballymote, Co Sligo.
victim, Caroline Keogh, female, irish (judged from name)Caroline Keoghsuspect, Dylan Smith, 22, male, named, irish (judged from name)Dylan Smith - 2 Mar2023BREAKING: Trainee Longford barber who ignited firework that left garda burned and scarred walks free from court
Provides full details of the sentencing hearing including the victim impact statement, the defence argument on point of law, Judge Deane's reasoning for dismissing the submission, and the €2,000 compensation offered and accepted.
victim, Caroline Keogh, female, irish (judged from name)Caroline Keoghsuspect, Dylan Smith, 22, male, named, irish (judged from name)Dylan Smith