Young man escaped from garda custody and travelled to Waterford to continue crime spree
Despite his young years, he has already accumulated 101 previous convictions.
A man who committed a spree of thefts from cars and stole a van during a night of crime in Waterford city has been jailed.
Just days prior, he had escaped from garda custody after scaling a 6-foot wall at Balbriggan Garda Station in Dublin.
Michael McGinley, of 20 Ringfort Avenue, Balrothery, Dublin is just 20 years old. Despite his young years, he has already accumulated 101 previous convictions.
On April 23, 2025, McGinley was being held in custody at Balbriggan Garda Station following a court appearance.
Whilst at the station, he asked to be taken outside for a cigarette. Two gardaí accompanied him to the rear yard of the station, which is bounded by a 6ft perimeter wall.
McGinley sprinted towards the wall, cleared it and escaped.
By May of 2025, the man was still at large. On May 6, several cars were broken into and ransacked in the Ballygunner area of Waterford city by McGinley and a female accomplice, who is also currently before the courts.
Whilst committing the break-ins, McGinley found a pair of keys for a Ford Transit van. He took the keys and drove away in the van. The van was later found burnt out. McGinley claims he sold the van for cash, and that the third party who bought the van from him burnt it.
During the night, McGinley posted “boastful” videos onto his TikTok account. Judge Eugene O’Kelly said the man displayed “bravado” in the videos. He was identified by gardaí and was brought to Waterford Garda Station.
The man’s defence counsel, Mr. Gareth Hayden BL, said his client's crimes were opportunistic, and were committed without a great deal of planning or thought. He did not go to great lengths to conceal his identity, and fingerprints were identified at the scene because he was not wearing gloves.
Mr. Hayden also said that his client did not damage any of the vehicles and he only stole from vehicles that were unlocked. Regarding McGinley’s long list of previous convictions, Mr. Hayden said things have gone “seriously wrong” in his client’s life.
McGinley pleaded guilty to three counts of theft and to taking a vehicle without authority.
Judge Eugene O’Kelly sentenced the man to three years imprisonment for taking the vehicle. He was sentenced to six months for each of the three theft charges.
His sentences will run concurrently, meaning he will serve a total of three years in prison.
