Jail for serial car-jacker identified on live stream of one of his offences

Fiona Ferguson

A serial car-jacker who was caught after he was identified on a live stream of the aftermath of one of his offences has been jailed for three and a half years.

Shane Ward (24) committed a second car-jacking of a taxi less than a week later after being released on station bail from a city centre garda station on a separate matter.

Ward, of Kimmage Manor Way, Terenure, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of seizing control of a vehicle at locations in Dublin on March 23rd and March 30th, 2025. He has 63 previous convictions, 13 of which were for theft.

Passing sentence on Monday, Judge Pauline Codd noted the victims of these “serious offences” had been left in fear for their safety and the taxi driver in the second offence had been subjected to considerable violence.

Judge Codd said it was difficult to disagree with one of the victim’s conclusion that it was very dangerous to be a taxi driver in Dublin.

The judge set a headline sentence of eight years' imprisonment for the offences.

She noted in mitigation matters including an early guilty plea, his relative youth and positive developments in his life in terms of addiction counselling and managing his emotions.

The judge noted traumatic events in his past which he had tried to deal with in “a maladaptive way” with drugs and alcohol, taking his frustrations out on those around him and “on society itself.”

Judge Codd imposed a five and half year sentence and suspended the final two years on strict conditions including two years' probation supervision post-release.

Garda Nicole Keogh told Shaun Smyth BL, prosecuting, that in the first incident a couple were in a parked car at Kilakee view point, Rathfarnham in the early hours of the morning, when a car pulled up behind them. Two or three males alighted and shone a torch in at them.

Gda Keogh said the men claimed to be gardaí and the male emerged from the car. The men attempted to steal mobile phones that were on the dashboard and conveyed the suggestion that they had knives but the victims did not recall any knives being produced.

The male victim was dragged forcibility from the car and the woman got out herself. The keys were left in the ignition and the assailants seized control of the vehicle.

Tattoo

One of the men had a large tattoo and matched the description of Ward.

Gda Keogh told the court that gardaí received confidential information that the aftermath of the offence, in which the assailants were showing their “takings” including a distinctive red jacket, had been live streamed on a social media application.

The court heard Ward was clearly identifiable on the live streaming footage. The car was later found undamaged.

The female injured party gave a victim impact statement outlining she had lost items with sentimental value and the offence had a lasting emotional impact on her. She said she had felt stupid as she had attempted to co-operate with people she thought were the gardai.

She said the offending had a deeply traumatic effect on her, and a lasting effect on her security and well-being.

Gda Keogh told the court a week later on March 30th, 2025 Ward approached a taxi driver on Dame Street.

The driver sought pre-payment of €40 which was paid. As he was alighting from the vehicle Ward reached back in and attempted to steal cash.

Ward assaulted the taxi driver, who described being in fear of his life. He was dragged from his vehicle. Ward got hold of the keys and drove away in the taxi. The taxi was later found abandoned and written off.

CCTV

The court heard Ward had committed the offence just after being released on bail from Pearse Street garda station on another matter and gardai were able to track him on CCTV for the station until he got into the taxi.

The taxi driver in his victim impact statement described how he had lost the use of his taxi which was unable to be fixed. He had to pay for a rented vehicle to continue working and suffered some physical injuries. He describes suffering flashbacks and being nervous at work.

He said he believes it is very dangerous to be a taxi driver in Dublin, telling the court he simply wanted to work and provide for his family.

Kevin White SC, defending, said Ward wants to apologise to all three victims unreservedly. He handed in a letter of apology.

He said Ward had a complicated upbringing. He outlined several traumatic and tragic incidents in Ward’s young life and said he began using tablets and alcohol. He said Ward was “self medicating” on tablets at the time of this offending.

He said Ward now has the support of a drug counsellor and was doing well in custody. He asked the court to structure a sentence to give Ward something to work towards so that he will not return before the courts.