Corkman who filmed himself stealing Range Rover jailed for eight months

Cork Circuit Criminal Court heare there was an estimated €10,000 worth of damage to the gates and that the Jeep, which was recovered, was worth over €100,000.

A man who filmed himself stealing a Range Rover and openly discussing how he crashed it through the security gates of the owner’s property has been jailed for eight months.

Judge Jonathan Dunphy imposed a total sentence of 32 months on Anthony Walsh with the last 24 months suspended at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

The judge noted a chaotic and challenging background in Walsh’s life, despite which he managed to obtain his Leaving Cert.

Detective Garda Rory Fogarty gave evidence at the sentencing hearing for Walsh at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

This included a victim impact statement from the owner of the house who said she was shocked to think that the accused and his accomplice was outside their home doing this, just metres from where her children were sleeping.

Det Garda Fogarty said: “His mobile phone was seized. His phone had numerous recordings discussing how he stole the vehicle and drove it through the gates.” 

Gardaí later found the car parked outside apartments on the Lee Road. They disabled the battery and waited until Walsh was seen getting into the vehicle that was under surveillance.

Abigail Creed defence barrister said: “Anthony Walsh had a rather chaotic life. From the age of 16/17 he started abusing cannabis. Before that, he had been doing relatively well in school. He left home and began to live in a hostel.

“He is 28. He was 26 at the time. He was in a bad way, abusing drugs and steroids, and had a drugs debt. He stole the vehicle to repay the debt.

“He has written a letter of apology to the injured party. He is clean of substances and dealing with his addictions. He has a girlfriend who is fully supportive of him.” 

Det Garda Rory Fogarty arrested Walsh and charged him stealing the two-year-old Range Rover and crashing it through electric gates at Bishopstown Avenue, Cork, on Sunday, October 9, 2023.

The detective said there was an estimated €10,000 worth of damage to the gates and that the Jeep, which was recovered, was worth over €100,000.

Det Garda Fogarty said the Jeep was found parked at the Lee Road apartment complex and the two suspects were seen getting into it.

“His mobile phone was seized. His phone had numerous recordings discussing how he stole the vehicle and openly discussing stealing the car and driving it through gates,” the detective said.

Walsh was living at Carrigbeg apartments, Sunday’s Well Road, Cork, at the time.

Walsh admitted counts including causing criminal damage to the gate and driving the Range Rover.