A serial car-jacker who was caught after being identified on a live stream showing the aftermath of one of his crimes has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison, reports Breaking News.
Shane Ward (24) carried out a second car-jacking of a taxi less than a week later after being released on station bail from a city centre garda station in relation to another matter, reports Breaking News.
Ward, from Kimmage Manor Way in Terenure, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of taking control of vehicles at locations in Dublin on March 23rd and March 30th, 2025. He has 63 previous convictions, including 13 for theft.
Delivering sentence on Monday, Judge Pauline Codd said the victims of these “serious offences” had been left fearing for their safety, and that the taxi driver involved in the second incident had endured significant violence, reports Breaking News.
Judge Codd said it was hard to disagree with one victim’s assessment that being a taxi driver in Dublin is extremely dangerous.
The judge set a headline sentence of eight years’ imprisonment for the offences, reports Breaking News.
She outlined mitigating factors, including Ward’s early guilty plea, his young age, and positive steps he has taken in addressing addiction issues and emotional regulation.
Judge Codd also referred to traumatic experiences in his past, which she said he had tried to cope with in “a maladaptive way” through drugs and alcohol, directing his anger at others and “on society itself”, reports Breaking News.
She imposed a sentence of five and a half years, suspending the final two years on strict conditions, including two years of probation supervision following his release.
Garda Nicole Keogh told prosecuting counsel Shaun Smyth BL that in the first incident, a couple were sitting in a parked car at the Kilakee viewpoint in Rathfarnham in the early hours when another car pulled in behind them, reports Breaking News.
She said two or three men got out and shone a torch into the vehicle.
Gda Keogh told the court the men claimed to be gardaí, prompting the male occupant to step out of the car. The group attempted to take mobile phones from the dashboard and suggested they had knives, although the victims did not recall seeing any weapons, reports Breaking News.
The male victim was forcibly dragged from the car, while the woman exited herself. The keys were left in the ignition and the attackers took control of the vehicle.
One of the men had a large tattoo and matched Ward’s description, reports Breaking News.
Gda Keogh said gardaí later received confidential information that footage showing the aftermath of the offence, including the assailants displaying their “takings” such as a distinctive red jacket, had been live-streamed on a social media platform.
The court heard Ward was clearly identifiable in the live-streamed footage. The stolen car was later recovered undamaged, reports Breaking News.
The female victim delivered a victim impact statement describing how she lost items of sentimental value and suffered long-term emotional consequences. She said she felt foolish for co-operating with people she believed were gardaí.
She told the court the incident had a deeply traumatic effect on her and had lasting implications for her sense of security and wellbeing, reports Breaking News.
Gda Keogh said that a week later, on March 30th, 2025, Ward approached a taxi driver on Dame Street.
The driver requested pre-payment of €40, which was paid. As the driver was getting out, Ward reached back inside and attempted to steal cash, reports Breaking News.
Ward assaulted the driver, who said he feared for his life. He was dragged from the vehicle, after which Ward seized the keys and drove off in the taxi. The vehicle was later found abandoned and written off.
The court was told Ward committed the offence shortly after being released on bail from Pearse Street garda station on another matter, and that gardaí tracked him on CCTV from the station until he entered the taxi, reports Breaking News.
In his victim impact statement, the taxi driver said he lost the use of his vehicle, which could not be repaired. He had to rent a replacement to continue working and sustained physical injuries. He said he experiences flashbacks and feels nervous while working.
He said he believes it is very dangerous to be a taxi driver in Dublin and told the court he simply wanted to work and provide for his family, reports Breaking News.
Defence counsel Kevin White SC said Ward wished to offer an unreserved apology to all three victims and submitted a letter of apology to the court.
He said Ward had a complex upbringing and outlined several traumatic and tragic events in his early life, explaining that he began using tablets and alcohol and was “self medicating” at the time of the offences, reports Breaking News.
Mr White said Ward now has the support of a drug counsellor and is progressing well in custody. He asked the court to structure the sentence in a way that would give Ward something to work towards so he would not reappear before the courts.
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