Cork man serving suspended sentence crashed stolen car into wall while fleeing gardaí

The accused man was under a six-month suspended prison sentence for assault at the time of the latest offence in Youghal

Sentencing was adjourned at Cork Circuit Criminal Court until November 17, 2026.

A young man sped from gardaí in a stolen car in Youghal — only to crash into a wall at a housing estate in the area.

That was the scenario described by Garda Donnchadh Finnegan at Cork Circuit Criminal Court at the sentencing hearing for Roman Whelan, aged 21, of Cork Hill, Youghal, Co Cork.

Whelan pleaded guilty to driving the car without consent of the owner, dangerous driving and causing criminal damage.

Garda Finnegan said Garda Brendan Collins spotted the car, rented by another person, being driven by Whelan after 11.30pm on February 15.

“The driving was dangerous as the accused man did a dangerous U-turn at Greencloyne, Youghal, and sped away from the gardaí but crashed into a wall at Copper Alley Close,” Garda Finnegan testified.

The accused man was under a six-month suspended prison sentence for assault at the time of this offence.

Judge Dermot Sheehan asked what could be said to prevent activation of this sentence and the imposition of a consecutive sentence for the new offence.

Defence barrister Patrick O’Riordan said of the February offences: “This has brought the overdue wake-up call that the six-month suspended sentence should have brought.” 

Mr O’Riordan said the defendant was hoping that sentencing could be adjourned for him to show that he could live a better life and stay out of trouble.

Judge Sheehan asked Garda Finnegan for his view on the man's behaviour in Youghal at the moment. Garda Finnegan said: “He is keeping his head down.” 

Judge Sheehan adjourned sentencing until November 17, 2026.