On-the-run teen arrested in AirBnB after escaping Dublin garda station

Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info
An on-the-run teen who escaped from a Garda station in north Dublin and is suspected of committing crimes while being at large has been arrested after he was discovered asleep in an AirBnB in the midlands - with a suspected stolen vehicle outside.
The 19-year-old thug - who is a relative of paralysed Drogheda feud mob boss Owen Maguire - is due to appear before the district court in the Criminal Courts of Justice this morning. It's alleged he jumped over the wall at Balbriggan Garda Station on Wednesday, April 23 after he was arrested for alleged criminal offences.
He had appeared before Balbriggan District Court earlier that day on charges of burglary, unauthorised taking of a vehicle and theft of fuel from a service station. Bail was refused after the prosecuting garda told the judge "no conditions of bail would be acceptable."
While gardai were processing the teen's prison warrant at the garda station, it's believed the thug was allowed outside to have a cigarette but managed to jump the wall of the garda station. He continued to be a fugitive until Thursday, June 19 when he was arrested.
It's suspected he continued on a crime rampage - until Thursday - when a number armed gardai from Dublin discovered him in an AirBnB in the midlands. A BMW, suspected of being stolen from outside a property in Mayo, was also discovered outside the property.
While on the run, the 19-year-old - who is suspected of committing a number of burglaries and car thefts while on the run - taunted gardai by posting videos of members of the force going about their duties.mIn a statement An Garda Siochana said: "Gardaí investigating the escape from Garda custody of a male, aged in his late teens, on 23rd April arrested the male on Thursday, June 19 who is detained at a Garda Station in Dublin.
"He has been charged in relation to this incident and is due to appear before Dublin District Court at the Criminal Courts of Justice (Court No. 5) on Friday June 20 at 10.30am. Investigations are ongoing."
Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

The Journal

2 hours ago

• The Journal

Man jailed for five years for rape and sexual assault of woman on first date

A MAN WHO anally raped a woman on their first date, despite her telling him repeatedly he did not have her legal consent to do so, has been jailed for five years and three months. 37-year-old Gary Coffey, formerly of Leinster Road West, Dublin, was found guilty by a jury of one count of anal rape and one count of sexually assaulting the woman at his home address in January 2023 following a Central Criminal Court trial in March this year. The court heard the victim in the case wished to keep her anonymity and did not wish for Coffey to be named. However, he is not legally entitled to anonymity as there is no link between him and the victim that could lead to her identification. Sentencing Coffey today, Justice Karen O'Connor said the aggravating factors included that the offending took place in Coffey's home, a place where the victim had been invited and should have been safe. The judge noted that it was 'important to remember' that consent to sexual activity can be withdrawn. She added that the jury heard evidence during the trial that there was consent to certain sexual activity, but not to anal sex. The judge set a headline sentence of seven years, which she reduced to six years, having considered the mitigation and Coffey's personal circumstances. She suspended the final nine months of the sentence on strict conditions, including that Coffey place himself under the supervision of the probation service for 12 months post-release, and backdated the sentence to when he entered custody in March. The court heard the pair had met on an online dating website and had arranged to go for drinks on the evening in question, but Coffey asked the woman to come to his house instead as he needed to have a shower. Detective Garda Seán Carrick told the court that the pair had some drinks in Coffey's bedroom as the woman did not wish to meet his mother. They started engaging in consensual sexual activity, but Coffey said he didn't want to use a condom and instead asked the woman if he could 'fuck (her) in the ass'. The woman refused, saying she had never done this before and had no wish to do so. They had consensual vaginal sex, but Coffey kept pestering the woman to let him have anal sex with her. The court heard the woman told Coffey he did not have legal consent to have anal sex with her, later telling gardaí she could not have been more clear in relation to her wishes. Advertisement At one point, when Coffey went to the bathroom, she got dressed, but Coffey told her she couldn't leave and persuaded her to come back to bed. While there, he inserted a finger in her anus and then anally raped her. The woman was terrified, and Coffey had his arms around her chest to the point where she felt like she was choking. She managed to escape the bed, and left the house quickly. She then blocked Coffey on the dating website and WhatsApp, and when he phoned her repeatedly, she blocked his number. She contacted the rape crisis centre and gardaí shortly afterwards and was taken to a sexual assault treatment unit. When Coffey's home was searched, gardaí found five tasers and a quantity of cannabis. He was convicted of these offences and has a total of eight previous convictions, the court heard. Gardaí also seized his phone and saw messages Coffey had sent to his brother and friends. In his plea of mitigation, Seamus Clarke SC, defending, said a psychological report prepared for the court indicated that Coffey potentially had a form of autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, in addition to mental health issues. The report concluded that if Coffey addressed his poor mental health and potential neurodivergence and addiction issues, he would then be at a lower risk of re-offending. Clarke said his client had written a letter to the court stating that this offending was out of character for him and does not reflect the kind of person he is. 'I have come to understand that my understanding of consent is flawed,' Coffey said in the letter, adding that he prides himself on being respectful and kind to everyone he meets. 'I am not a bad person and I never intended to cause harm,' Coffey continued, before he said he was deeply sorry for the hurt he had caused. He said he hopes he can also move forward 'with compassion and accountability'. Clarke told the court that Coffey now accepts that he was wrong and didn't have the woman's consent, despite the fact that the probation report concluded that while he accepts the jury's verdict, he is not accepting responsibility for the rape. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal

Sunday World

3 hours ago

• Sunday World

Teen (19) escaped from Garda station while outside having a cigarette, court told

The accused distracted the garda, ran through the back car park, scaled the high perimeter wall and 'made good his escape' A YOUNG man was detained at a Dublin garda station when he escaped from custody after 'distracting' an officer while outside having a cigarette, it is alleged. Michael McGinley (19) ran through a car park, scaled a perimeter wall and was at large for more than eight weeks before he was recaptured and brought before a court today, gardai said. After he was refused bail, the accused pointed at his girlfriend who was in court and said: 'I love this woman here. I will marry her one day. That's all I'll say.' Mr McGinley, of Ringfort Avenue, Balrothery, Co Dublin is charged with escaping unlawful custody at Balbriggan garda station on April 23. Michael McGinley News in 90 Seconds - June 20th At Dublin District Court this afternoon, Detective Garda Colm Fitzpatrick told Judge Mark O'Connell the accused was arrested at a guest house in Athboy, Co Meath yesterday where he was with his girlfriend after booking under a false name. He made no reply to the charge after caution. Objecting to bail, Det Gda Fitzpatrick said at the time of the alleged escape, the accused had appeared in Balbriggan District Court on several charges, was refused bail and remanded in custody. He was taken to the garda station to wait until the sitting judge had signed a warrant committing him to prison. Mr McGinley asked if he could go out for a cigarette, his request was acceded to and he was taken out the back of the station, the detective continued. The accused distracted the garda, ran through the back car park, scaled the high perimeter wall and 'made good his escape', the court was told. "He remained at large for eight weeks and one day, knowing he was unlawfully at large and despite his family asking him to hand himself in,' Det Gda Fitzpatrick said. Gardai searched a guest house in Athboy and found the accused in an upstairs bedroom attempting to get dressed and in the company of his girlfriend (18). He had used a false name when signing in and a stolen BMW was parked outside. Applying for bail, defence solicitor Holly Laher said her client was presumed innocent and would abide by bail conditions, including signing on at a garda station and keeping a night time curfew. Mr McGinley, a member of the Travelling community, was supported in court by his mother, partner and older brother. The accused could live with his brother in Wexford if released on bail, Ms Laher said. She asked the judge to take account of her client's young age and the detrimental effect prison would have on him. The garda said no conditions would assuage his fears over granting bail. Judge O'Connell said the risk that Mr McGinley might not attend court 'was an understatement' and refused bail. The judge added that he was 'not impressed by the deportment' of family members in court 'who find it funny.' 'They have been smiling and laughing, as he has been,' Judge O'Connell said. 'It suggests they are not taking this thing seriously at all." The accused was granted free legal aid and remanded in custody to appear in Cloverhill District Court next week.

Irish Daily Mirror

5 hours ago

• Irish Daily Mirror

Man arrested after over €100,000 of cannabis plants seized following Louth raid

One man has been arrested after Gardaí seized over €100,000 of cannabis plants following a Louth raid. Late last night Thursday, 19 June, as part of Operation Tara and ongoing investigations into the sale and supply of drugs and related criminal activity, Gardaí attached to the Dundalk Drugs Unit assisted by Dundalk Detective and Crime Units executed a search under warrant at a residence in Dundalk, Louth. During the course of the search, approximately 126 mature cannabis plants, with an estimated street value of €100,800 was seized (analysis pending), along with cannabis with an estimated value of €34,000 which was packaged and ready for onward sale and supply. A man, aged in his late 20s was arrested at the scene in connection with the investigation and is currently detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996 at a Garda station in Co. Louth. He has since been charged and appeared before a special sitting of Dundalk District Court this afternoon at 4pm on June 20. The drugs will be sent for analysis to Forensic Science Ireland (FSI). This seizure forms part of Operation Tara; an enhanced national anti-drugs strategy, which was launched by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris on July 2, 2021. The focus of Operation Tara is to disrupt, dismantle and prosecute drug trafficking networks, at all levels - international, national, local - involved in the importation, distribution, cultivation, production, local sale and supply of controlled drugs.