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Court told passengers on stolen airport minibus likened incident to police chase on TV

Jan 20, 2021 17:35 By News Northern Sound
Court told passengers on stolen airport minibus likened incident to police chase on TV
Cousins Stephen and John McDonagh arriving at Cavan District Court on January 9th 2020.
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The Court has been told how three passengers on a stolen airport minibus likened the incident to a police chase on TV. Two Garda vehicles

The Court has been told how three passengers on a stolen airport minibus likened the incident to a police chase on TV.

Two Garda vehicles were rammed in the almost two hour chase last January, which covered five counties, 100 kilometres and two stolen vehicles.

The sentencing of the two cousins who were arrested in Monaghan was heard today.

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The incident began when Stephen and John McDonagh came across a Carlton Hotels minibus at Dublin Airport.

The keys were in the ignition, and they drove off in it with three passengers on board - a Columbian national living in Germany and two English teenagers returning from a scouting trip in America.

Victim statements described the men as "bandits" and that it was like what would be seen on a TV police chase.

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The two young people told Gardaí that they were asking their parents and friends to track their mobile data in case something happened to them.

The passengers were let off near the CityNorth Hotel and made their own way back to the airport.

The minibus continued northbound on the motorway where it was intercepted by Gardaí at Ballbriggan.

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The pair drove at the Garda who was approaching them, eventually exiting the motorway at Junction 17, Dundalk.

They drove towards Castleblayney on the wrong side of the road, colliding with a Garda patrol car near Dundalk, a PSNI vehicle when they crossed into Cullaville and avoiding a stinger on return into the Republic.

The McDonaghs exited the minibus in Monaghan and took a Seat Ibiza car belonging to a farmer who was tending to livestock.

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They drove up and down the N2 before deliberately colliding with a Garda jeep, removing its front wheel.

They were arrested and brought to Carrickmacross Garda Station where they were charged.

26 year old Stephen McDonagh of The Steeples, Navan, County Meath has pleaded guilty to six charges.

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One of unlawfully taking the minibus from outside Terminal 2, three of falsely imprisoning passengers on the bus, one of reckless endangerment at Junction 11 on the M1, and one of taking a vehicle at an address in Broomfield.

27 year old John McDonagh, also of The Steeples in Navan has pleaded guilty to five charges.

Three were for the false imprisonment of the bus passengers, and two of being a passenger in a known stolen vehicle.

Victim impact statements from the three bus passengers spoke of the fear they were in during the ordeal, and the lasting impact it has had on their wellbeing.

Defence Counsel for the two men highlighted that it was an "opportunistic" theft and there was no suggestion of violence or threat towards those on board.

The Court was told how both men had difficulties with substances at the time and had significant difficulties in their family circumstances.

Judge John Aylmer is to consider the evidence heard and will pass sentence at the next sitting of Cavan Circuit Court in March.

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