Limerick rugby player with 'exceptional talent' charged in court for alleged 'car-jacking'

A LIMERICK man who had “great things expected of him as a rugby player” has appeared in court charged in connection with an alleged 'car-jacking'.

At Ennis District Court, Diarmuid McCarthy, 34, of no fixed abode, has appeared in court charged in connection with car-theft while the female driver was in the car and later crashing the car in Limerick city centre at 11.44am on Saturday, August 24 last.

Solicitor for Mr McCarthy, Turlough Herbert told the court that his client “would be very well known in Limerick as an exceptional sports talent”. 

Mr Herbert told the court: “There were great things expected of him as a rugby player but somewhere along the line it is accepted that something went wrong with him and it is all related to addiction.”

Mr Herbert said: “Mr McCarthy’s father is a successful businessman and they are very concerned for him.”

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Judge Marie Keane said that Mr McCarthy’s life had spiralled out of control because of his drug addiction.

Outlining the Garda allegations against Mr McCarthy during a contested bail hearing, Det Garda Shane O’Neill said that it will be alleged that Mr McCarthy opened the door of a parked car on Ballinacurra Road after he had exited the grounds of University Hospital Limerick on foot last Saturday morning.

Det O’Neill said the 61-year old female driver had just pulled over to take a video call from her daughter who is living in the UK currently.

Det O’Neill said that Mr McCarthy - under the influence of an intoxicant at the time - demanded the keys from the driver and after handing over the keys she got out of the car.

Det O'Neill said that the entire incident was overheard by the driver’s daughter who was still on the video-call.

The Garda Detective said that it will be further alleged that Mr McCarthy drove off and 10 minutes later crashed the car into bollards onto Foxes Bow in Limerick city centre before running off.

Det Garda O'Neill said that the woman was fearful as she didn’t know what Mr McCarthy was capable of and both the driver and her daughter were shaken by the incident.

In the case, Mr McCarthy is charged with the unlawful taking possession of the O8 registered car at Ballinacurra Road, Limerick city, dangerous driving and the criminal damage of the car at Foxes Bow on August 24.

Det Garda O’Neill said that more serious charges are being considered. Heaccepted that Mr McCarthy had been involved in nothing remotely like Saturday’s incident before.

Det O’Neill said that is alleged “is very much out of the ordinary for him”. Det O'Neill said that Mr McCarthy "is a known drug user".

Det O’Neill said that when arrested by Gardai, Mr McCarthy was under the influence of an intoxicant.

Mr Herbert said that Mr McCarthy has been living a fairly chaotic lifestyle for a number of years because of his addiction.

Mr Herbert said that a remand in custody would be “harsh medicine for his client” and he had been in touch with an addiction treatment centre which has confirmed that there is a bed for McCarthy.

Det O’Neill said that Mr McCarthy’s alleged offending “is borne out of his addiction and that is the root cause of why he was there today”. He said that a place at the residential treatment centre for Mr McCarthy would allay concerns on bail.

Judge Marie Keane said that she would grant Mr McCarthy on condition that he be brought by Gardai to the treatment centre.

Judge Keane said that if Mr McCarthy leaves the treatment centre before his programme is complete, Gardai can bring him back to court for him to be remanded in custody.

Judge Keane has ordered Mr McCarthy to stay out of Limerick city and remanded him on bail to appear before Limerick District Court on September 4.