Owner pleads guilty to false claim car was stolen

The owner of a car crashed and abandoned in Bweeng, Mallow, Co Cork, made a statement to gardaí that his car had been stolen on the night. Yesterday, he pleaded guilty to a charge of making a false report.

Jonathan Heffernan, aged 32, of 83 Bridevalley View, Cork, pleaded guilty to a charge of knowingly making a false statement to Garda David O’Donoghue which caused the time of An Garda Siochána to be wastefully employed.

Frank Buttimer, solicitor, said Heffernan admitted to making the false report later on the same day that he committed the offence.

Inspector Mary King said the background to the case was a single-vehicle collision at Bweeng where the driver could not be located. However, Heffernan’s driving licence was found in the car.

Later that day, June 20, 2009, Heffernan reported the car stolen. “He was arrested for making a false report and he admitted making a false report,” Insp King said.

His previous convictions included two for drink driving in 2008.

Judge Con O’Leary said: “If Mr Heffernan had been intoxicated and had been driving and prosecuted for it, the chances of a custodial sentence would be high in my view.”

Judge O’Leary adjourned sentencing for a week. Mr Buttimer said of the accused: “He is under no illusions as to the gravity of the matter.”