‘End of the road’ deadline met as vehicle theft case file on four accused sent to DPP - Donegal Daily

The case of four men charged with the unlawful taking of a car earlier this year will proceed after Gardai confirmed that a file has been sent to the Director o...

The case of four men charged with the unlawful taking of a car earlier this year will proceed after Gardai confirmed that a file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Two weeks ago, a District Court Judge gave the authorities a fortnight to advance the case - or face having it struck out.

When the quartet appeared before Donegal District Court, sitting at Ballyshannon courthouse, this week, it was confirmed that the file is now with the DPP. That file also includes a report from Forensic Science Ireland, which was noted as being outstanding on the last occasion.

The four, who are all in custody and appeared via video link. They are: Twins Sean Farrell and Eric Farrell, aged 22, and of Castle Park, Tallaght, Dublin 24; Michael Ward, a 26-year-old, of Kimmage, Manor Way, Whitehall Way, Dublin 12; and 21-year-old Keith Brady, of Cushlawn Close, Tallaght, Dublin 24.

Each face similar charges in relation to January 4, 2026 and Judge Brendan O’Reilly laid down a deadline of August 19 for the file to be submitted . “We are getting near the end of the road,” Judge O’Reilly said.

The case was before Judge Ciaran Liddy this week and Garda Sergeant Maurice Doyle told the court: “I can confirm that the file is with the DPP’s office”. A letter from a State Solicitor confirming its receipt was also in court, Sergeant Doyle said, asking for the matter to be put back to September 10.

The four men are charged with the unlawful taking of a Mitsubishi L200 pickup at Stoneparks, Ballymote, Co Sligo.

The charge is contrary to section 112 of the Road Traffic Act 1961, as amended by section 65 of the Road Traffic Act 1968, and as amended by section 18 of the Road Traffic Act 2006.

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They are also charged with two counts of being in possession of a stolen registration plates - relating to two Volkswagen Passats - at Annaghmore, Collooney, Co Sligo on the same date. Those charges are contrite to section 18 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001.

The quartet have all been charged with being in possession of a Parkside cordless drill with the intention of using it in connection with a theft, contrary to section 15 (1) and (5) of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001.

Sean Farrell is further charged with being in possession of a controlled drug, cannabis, at Ballymote Garda Station, on the same date.

Brady also faces a charge that he did, at Cleavry, Castlebaldwin, Co Sligo, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, have a flick knife in a public place for use of, for causing injury to or incapacitating a person.

Brady and Ward appeared on video link from Cloverhill Prison while the Farrell brothers appeared on video link from Mountjoy Prison.