THIEF CAGED

Carjacker, 22, who ‘callously’ left man ‘dying on roadside’ after being thrown from bonnet jailed as family devastated

He had been committing a ‘spree’ of crimes with another man

• Published: 17:59, 12 Feb 2024
• Updated: 17:59, 12 Feb 2024

A MAN who stole a car, before killing its owner by throwing him from the bonnet as he was driving off, has been jailed for nine and a half years.

Adam Murphy, 22, of Cherry Orchard Crescent, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10, pleaded guilty to one count of the manslaughter of Ian McDonnell on January 23, 2022.

He further pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting to take a vehicle, three counts of stealing three vehicles, one count of attempting to steal property from a vehicle and one count of stealing a push bike at various locations throughout Dublin on the same date.

His co-accused, Keith McCormick Smith, 22, of Riverview, Church Road, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting to take a vehicle, three counts of stealing three vehicles, one count of attempting to steal property from a vehicle at various locations in Dublin on January 23, 2022.

The two men had been committing a “spree” of crimes where they were robbing cars and planning to sell them.

Murphy had stolen Mr McDonnell’s car while he was in his place of work, before driving off with Mr McDonnell on the bonnet.

Mr McDonnell was thrown from the bonnet of the car and onto the roadway.

He died shortly afterwards.

Sentencing the men today, Judge Dara Hayes said Ian McDonnell had been “callously killed by Adam Murphy” which he described as “devastation visited upon this family in such a senseless way.”

The judge said the two men “left Mr McDonnell dying on the roadway as they fled to continue their spree of thefts” which had been done “for the sake of whatever sum of money he hoped to get for a six-year-old family car”.

Murphy was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment, but Judge Hayes suspended the final two and a half years.

He sentenced McCormick-Smith to three years and two months’ imprisonment, but suspended the final twelve months on strict conditions.

Ian McDonnell had stopped at his business, Ozone Car Sales, on Robinhood Road, Dublin 22, and pulled his car onto the forecourt and left the car running while he went inside.

Murphy and McCormick-Smith were seen driving past the car garage, doing a u-turn and finally pulling into a nearby business.

Murphy got out of the car and got into Mr McDonnell’s car. He began driving off in the car with Mr McDonnell on the bonnet.

Thrown from bonnet

The car could be seen accelerating, and Mr McDonnell was carried 46 metres.

He was then thrown from the bonnet of the car and onto the roadway.

His body travelled along the road for nine metres. Murphy then drove away, leaving Mr McDonnell on the road.

Mr McDonnell was taken to Tallaght Hospital, but never regained consciousness. He died on January 28, 2022.

McCormick-Smith was arrested and made full admissions.

‘Seem like a scumbag’

He said: “We set out to rob a car. We didn’t set out to kill anyone.”

He said: “I might seem like a scumbag, but I have emotions.”

During his second garda interview, Murphy said: “I accept what happened on the night; it should have never happened. It all happened so fast.”

Murphy has 27 previous convictions, while McCormick Smith has 16 previous convictions.

Mr McDonnell’s wife, Monica, read her victim impact statement to the court and said they were “childhood sweethearts”.

She described how becoming a father was the “proudest day of his life” and that “his greatest passion was his family.”

She said: “When Ian died, part of me died that night as my heart belonged to him.”