Ireland Two men sentenced at Kilkenny Circuit Court over false hijacking report and concealed offence
On 21 December 2021 in County Kilkenny, Mark Curran, a 73-year-old man, told gardaí that the courier van he was driving had been hijacked, and the van was found crashed. Gardaí investigated, finding CCTV showing him meeting Krzysztof Kmit at a petrol station before the crash and DNA matching Curran on the crashed vehicle's airbag. On 28 December 2021 Kmit made a statement saying he met Curran on the night of the alleged hijacking. Both men were charged; Curran was charged with wasting police time and concealing an offence, and Kmit was convicted of concealing an offence. At Kilkenny Circuit Court, Judge John Martin sentenced Curran to two years suspended on conditions including 240 hours of community work, and Kmit to nine months suspended in full, as reported on 31 July 2024.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced30 Jul
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Mark Curran, a 73-year-old man, told gardaí that the courier van he was driving had been hijacked.
- When
- The offence took place on 21 December 2021.
- Where
- The case is recorded in County Kilkenny, where the van was found crashed.
- Investigation
- Six gardaí and 18 fire officers attended the scene where the van had been found crashed.
- CCTV showed that the two men had met at a petrol station before the crash.
- DNA found on the airbag of the crashed vehicle matched Curran.
- Other details
- On 28 December 2021, Krzysztof Kmit made a statement to gardaí saying he met Curran on the night of the alleged hijacking.
- Charges
- Curran was charged with wasting police time and concealing an offence.
- Both men were charged, and Kmit was convicted of concealing an offence.
- In court
- Judge John Martin described the offence before the court as a serious offence.
- Sentence
- Curran received a two-year sentence, suspended on conditions including 240 hours of community work.
- Curran was ordered to pay €5,000, split between the Garda Benevolent Fund and a fire services fund if one exists.
- Kmit received a nine-month sentence, suspended in full.
- Kmit was ordered to pay €2,5000 (as printed in the source) to the Garda Benevolent Fund and to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for 12 months.
15 statements extracted from the articles
- whatCurran told gardaí that the courier van he was driving had been hijacked. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- whenThe offence took place on 21 December 2021. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- investigationSix gardaí and 18 fire officers attended the scene where the van had been found crashed. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- investigationCCTV showed the two men had met before the crash at a petrol station. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- investigationDNA found on the airbag of the crashed vehicle matched Curran. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- chargeCurran was charged with wasting police time and concealing an offence. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- chargeBoth men were charged. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- courtJudge Martin described the offence before the court as a serious offence. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- courtJudge Martin convicted Kmit of concealing an offence. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- sentenceCurran received a two-year sentence, suspended on conditions including 240 hours of community work. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- sentenceCurran was ordered to pay €5,000, split between the Garda Benevolent Fund and a fire services fund if one exists. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- sentenceKmit received a nine-month sentence, suspended in full. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- sentenceKmit was ordered to pay €2,5000 to the Garda Benevolent Fund. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- sentenceKmit was ordered to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for 12 months. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- otherOn 28 December 2021, Kmit made a statement to gardaí saying he met Curran on the night of the alleged hijacking. (kilkennypeople.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 30 Jul2024Kilkenny court hands down suspended sentence for wasting garda time
Court report of sentencing for two accused in a single 2021 incident; no existing case matches this incident.
convicted, Mark Curran, 73, male, named, irish (judged from name)Mark Curranconvicted, Krzysztof Kmit, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Krzysztof Kmit