Man who took €1,000 of alcohol forfeits car

Patrick Smith (50) dangerously drove away from officers, who then found the stolen drink in his car.

The father-of-three was found guilty of theft and dangerous driving after a trial earlier this year at Dublin District Court.

Judge Catherine Murphy has now granted an order forfeiting Smith's Opel Vectra to the State.

The prosecution sought the order on the basis that Smith paid in cash for the €6,950 Vectra.

Smith, of Portland Place in the north inner city, had resisted the application, insisting that his wife bought the car with money from an €8,000 loan she took out.

However, Judge Murphy ruled against him after hearing the loan application had been for "home improvements".

Smith had denied stealing cases of Jameson, Smirnoff and Hennessy at Fairview Strand on October 4, 2012.

He also pleaded not guilty to two counts of dangerous driving.

On the charges, Judge Murphy ordered Smith to carry out 210 hours of community service instead of a five-month prison sentence.

She also banned him from driving for two years.

DELIVERY

The court heard gardai had seen the accused near the delivery vehicle that was unloading, then saw him drive past in the Vectra.

He failed to stop and gardai pursued him. He drove through two sets of red traffic lights at speed, stopping at a flats complex at Ballybough Road.

Smith and another man got out and fled on foot.

The car was seized and the property was identified as belonging to a cash and carry.

On carrying out enquiries, it was established that the accused had bought the Vectra from a car dealer and paid for it in cash.

aphelan@herald.ie