Jailed for taking vehicle in Newbliss

A Monaghan man has been jailed for a total of 10 months for the unlawful taking of a vehicle.

Daryl O’Leary (27) of Woodview, Killygowan, took the vehicle without the owner’s permission from Main Street, Newbliss, on April 24, 2025.

He subsequently appeared before Judge Raymond Finnegan at Cavan District Court also charged with driving uninsured and without a valid licence, and with the theft of keys and property to the value of €50.

A charge of using threatening behaviour at Clones was taken into account.

O’Leary got into the red Hyundai that was parked on the street and drove off before crashing it on the R183 at Clones. Gardaí subsequently found the defendant walking the road “unaware of his surroundings” and posing a “significant danger to himself”.

The dad of three has previous convictions, including from March 2025 when he received a suspended sentence at Monaghan District Court.

Judge Finnegan opted not to trigger the suspended sentence, but imposed a five-month sentence on O’Leary for the unlawful taking charge, and a consecutive five months for driving without insurance.

Other charges were taken into account.

Legal aid was granted and O’Leary was represented in court by solicitor Martin Cosgrove.