Latest news with #ToyotaAvensis
Powys County Times
a day ago
- Automotive
- Powys County Times
Person taken to hospital after car hits telephone pole
A crash that saw a single car crash into a telephone pole in Powys resulted in one person going to hospital. Powys Police confirmed that one person went to hospital as a result of a collision between a car and a telephone pole on the A483. The crash took place at around 8.35am on Saturday, July 26, between Llandrindod and Llanbister, and resulted in the road being closed for the recovery of the telephone pole. A spokesperson for Dyfed Powys Police said: 'Police attended a single vehicle collision which occurred at about 8.35am, Saturday, July 26. 'A Toyota Avensis collided with a telephone pole on the A483 between Llandrindod and Llanbister. 'One person attended hospital. 'The road remained close for recovery of the telephone pole.'
Sunday World
20-07-2025
- Sunday World
Thugs who burned down tanning salon as families slept upstairs get extra jail time
'targeted' attack | Keith McCormack Smith, Jason Ryle and PJ Lyons had their sentences increased The destroyed salon and fire-damaged apartments on Tullow Street At the Court of Appeal, Keith McCormack Smith (24) had his four-year sentence increased to seven years; Jason Ryle (26) had his three-and-a-half-year sentence increased to six years; and PJ Lyons (21) had his three-and-a-half-year sentence increased to four-and-a-half years. McCormack Smith – also known as Keith McCormick and Keith McCormick-Smith – of Riverview, Church Road, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15 pleaded guilty to arson at Tip Top Tanning Studio, Tullow Street, Carlow on May 17, 2022, and arson to a Toyota car on the same date and at the same location. He also pleaded guilty to various other charges including unlawful use of a motor vehicle, unlawful carriage in a motor vehicle and theft between May 1 and May 17, 2022. Judge Eugene O'Kelly sentenced McCormack Smith to six years with the final two years suspended at Carlow Circuit Court on July 31, 2024. Damaged shop front and apartments on Tullow Street Ryle, of Raithin, Mullingar, Westmeath and Lyons, of Cedarbrook Walk, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10, also pleaded guilty to arson arising out of the same incident. Ryle and Lyons further pleaded guilty to a number of other charges including unlawful use of a motor vehicle, attempted theft and theft on various dates in May 2022. Ryle was sentenced to five and a half years' imprisonment with the final two years suspended while Lyons was also handed a sentence of five and a half years with the final two years suspended for a period of two years and three months. Appealing the leniency of these sentences in April last, Niall Storan BL, for the DPP, said the incident in Carlow occurred shortly before 5am on May 17, 2022 when a stolen Toyota Avensis was rammed into a building on Tullow Street in Carlow and set alight causing the building to catch fire. Mr Storan said the ground floor of the building operated as a tanning salon during the day and the upper levels were residential apartments. He said McCormack Smith was driving the Toyota car while PJ Lyons recorded what was happening on his phone and Ryle was also present. Ryle had a bottle containing accelerant in his hand which he then poured onto the car while McCormack Smith got out and the three fled the scene. A garda investigation revealed that multiple vehicles had been stolen in different locations and were involved in the commission of various offences which ultimately led to the arson at the tanning salon. The offenders were ultimately identified through social media content from a TikTok account. The destroyed salon and fire-damaged apartments on Tullow Street Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 20th Mr Storan told the Court of Appeal in April that it was 'difficult to conceive of a more serious arson offence' than this one which was both 'targeted' and 'pre-meditated' to cause 'an enormous fire'. He argued the headline sentence of eight years was too low and the sentences imposed did not adequately reflect the gravity of the offence. The lawyer suggested the judge had misplaced the offending at the mid-range on the scale of gravity. Mr Storan also said insufficient weight was given to the many aggravating factors including the fact that the apartments over the premises were occupied by families who were sleeping at the time, the pre-meditation involved, the use of an accelerant and the fact that the respondents were on bail. In delivering judgement, Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy said that the arson was a very serious offence, with obvious aggravating factors including the planning involved, the use of a getaway vehicle, the attack on a business premises, the fact that residential apartments needed to be evacuated, and the fact that each man had previous convictions and was on bail at the time. She said that the court agreed with the DPP that the sentencing judge reduced the sentences by too much, with the sentences ultimately imposed not meeting the gravity of the offending. Ruling that the sentences were unduly lenient, Ms Justice Kennedy said that the court would quash the sentences and move on to resentencing the three men. She said that the appropriate headline sentence for McCormack Smith was ten years for the arson offence, which was reduced to eight years with the final year suspended. In the case of Ryle, the headline sentence set was nine and a half years, reduced to seven years with the final year suspended. And in the case of Lyons, Ms Justice Kennedy fixed the headline sentence at nine years, reduced to six and a half years with the final two years suspended.
Irish Examiner
03-07-2025
- Irish Examiner
'Serious player' in East Cork drugs trade jailed for 10 years
A ten-year jail term was imposed today on a 39-year-old Cobh man who was described by the judge as 'a serious player in the sale, supply and distributions of drugs in East Cork.' Judge Helen Boyle imposed a total sentence of 12 years with the last two years suspended in the case against Gerard Hayes of College Lawn, College Manor, Cobh, Co Cork. Judge Boyle said this was a very successful garda operation and she commended in particular the work of gardaí from Cobh and Midleton in the investigation of a man who was part of a criminal organisation and that the large amount of cash and property seized both in East Cork and in Dublin represented the proceeds of crime. Addressing the accused man directly, Judge Boyle said: 'You were not simply moving that money around for somebody else, you were the person who had gathered that money through drug-dealing.' A total of €672,000 in cash wrapped in vacuum packs and duct-tape was found in the boot of his car when he was stopped on Mespil Road in Dublin — money he initially described as being his life savings before pleading guilty to money-laundering in respect of it. Detective Sergeant Eugene McCarthy said: 'He insisted it was all from cash jobs and 'foxers' he had done over the years and denied any involvement in drugs … The way the money was wrapped and marked bears all the hallmarks of drug-dealing,' That was on February 20, 2024, within days of being released on bail following his arrest for drug-dealing and money-laundering offences in East Cork. And he was arrested for a third time — having secured High Court bail in relation to the Dublin charges — soon afterwards on March 20, 2024. Detective Garda Dylan Murphy said that on this date he was seen driving a Toyota Avensis near Cobh rugby club and on being searched he had €1,400 worth of cocaine in deals concealed in a repurposed spray cannister. On the first of the three incidents before the court today, two hair-brushes were found in his possession. While there was a lot of hair tangled in the brushes it was discovered on closer inspection that the brushes had been modified to conceal close to €3,000 worth of cocaine in deals. This first incident on February 2, 2024, was described by Detective Garda James McCarthy. Gerard Hayes had just driven his Audi A4 from a storage shed he was renting for €5,000 per year at Ballydaniel Ballymore in Cobh. A total of €62,800 in cash was found at that premise in Ballymore. All of the cash was in €50 notes. It was found in an office under timber which was under tarpaulin. An assortment of ammunition — for which he once had a licence, but did not have at the time — was found on that occasion. Some of the ammunition and related materials were found in the attic of the storage premises. Also following searches carried out at that time at Ballynacorra River, East Ferry, Midleton, he admitted possession of proceeds of criminal conduct in the form of a boat, including contents and engine, with a value of €86,000. Between the three incidents he was interviewed on 17 separate occasions and disclosed nothing of material assistance to the investigations during any of them. Ultimately, he made admissions to charges including the possession of cocaine for sale or supply and possession of large quantities of ammunition and silencers for firearms and the very large amount of cash and property — the proceeds of criminal conduct, which are money-laundering charges. The most serious charge states that on February 20, 2024, at Mespil Road, Dublin 4 he had the proceeds of criminal conduct, namely cash to the value of €672,000. As well as the Mespil Road money-laundering charge there was a charge on the same date related to his home in Cobh involving €10,050. The total value of cash, vehicles, boat and other property that were deemed to be the proceeds of criminal conduct, totalled over €745,000. Judge Helen Boyle made a forfeiture order to the State of all of this. The Audi A6 being paid for in instalments by the accused was not forfeited to the State. Jane Hyland senior counsel emphasised the value of the pleas of guilty made by the accused in these cases. She said the accused felt shame, not least for the impact that his incarceration would have on his family.
Irish Examiner
24-06-2025
- Irish Examiner
Cork man accused of money-laundering and drug-dealing found with €672k in cash while on bail
A Cobh man under investigation for money-laundering, drug-dealing and possession of ammunition was stopped driving in Dublin when he was on bail and gardaí found €672,000 in cash wrapped in vacuum packs and duct-tape in the boot of his car. 39-year-old Gerard Hayes, with an address at College Lawn, College Manor, Cobh, Co Cork, told gardaí as soon as he was stopped on Mespil Road in Dublin that his life savings were in the boot of the car. Detective Sergeant Eugene McCarthy said Gerard Hayes told them there was €620,000 in the boot of the car. In fact, when gardaí counted it, there was €52,000 more than that. 'He insisted it was all from cash jobs and 'foxers' he had done over the years, and denied any involvement in drugs… The way the money was wrapped and marked bears all the hallmarks of drug-dealing,' Det Sgt McCarthy said at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. This arrest by Donnybrook gardaí in Dublin occurred on February 20, 2024, within days of being released on bail following his arrest for drug-dealing and money-laundering offences in East Cork. And he was arrested for a third time — having secured High Court bail in relation to the Dublin charges — soon afterwards, on March 20, 2024. Detective Garda Dylan Murphy said on this date he was seen driving a Toyota Avensis near Cobh Rugby Club and on being searched, he had €1,400 worth of cocaine in deals concealed in a repurposed spray cannister. On the first of the three incidents before the court on Tuesday, two hair brushes were found in his possession. While there was a lot of hair tangled in the brushes, it was discovered on closer inspection the brushes had been modified to conceal close to €3,000 worth of cocaine in deals. This first incident on February 2, 2024, was described by Detective Garda James McCarthy. Gerard Hayes had just driven his Audi A4 from a storage shed he was renting for €5,000 a year at Ballydaniel, Ballymore, in Cobh. €62,800 in cash was found at that premise in Ballymore. All of the cash was in €50 notes. It was found in an office under timber, which was under tarpaulin. An assortment of ammunition — for which he once had a licence, but did not have at the time — was found on that occasion. Some of the ammunition and related materials were found in the attic of the storage premises. Also following searches carried out at that time at Ballynacorra River, East Ferry, Midleton, he admitted possession of proceeds of criminal conduct in the form of a boat, including contents and engine, with a value of €86,000. Between the three incidents, he was interviewed on 17 separate occasions and disclosed nothing of material assistance to the investigations during any of the them. Ultimately, he made admissions to charges including the possession of cocaine for sale or supply, and possession of large quantities of ammunition and silencers for firearms and the very large amount of cash and property — the proceeds of criminal conduct, which are money-laundering charges. The most serious charge states that on February 20 2024 on Mespil Road, Dublin 4, he had the proceeds of criminal conduct, namely cash to the value of €672,000. As well as the Mespil Road money-laundering charge, there was a charge on the same date related to his home in Cobh involving €10,050. The total value of cash, vehicles, boat and other property that were deemed to be the proceeds of criminal conduct, totalled over €745,000. Judge Helen Boyle made a forfeiture order to the State of all of this. The Audi A6 being paid for in instalments by the accused was not forfeited to the State. Jane Hyland, senior counsel, emphasised the value of the pleas of guilty made by the accused in these cases. Judge Boyle said there was a lot of evidence to consider and she remanded the accused in custody for sentencing until July 2.
Press and Journal
28-05-2025
- Press and Journal
Tain danger-driver who led police on 90mph chase jailed
A man has been jailed after leading police on a blue-light chase through Easter Ross. Alexander Burke sped away from officers between Alness and Evanton, reaching estimated speeds of up to 90mph. When he was traced and the car searched, a meat cleaver was found beside the driver's seat. Burke, 30, appeared before Sheriff Ian Cruickshank for sentencing, having previously pled guilty to charges of dangerous driving and having a meat cleaver in a public place. The court heard the incident began on the morning of July 5 2023, when Burke was spotted at the Asda store in Tain by an off-duty police officer, who was aware there was a warrant out for his arrest. He was driving a silver Toyota Avensis, and officers traced the owner, who confirmed this was the case. Police began to search for Burke on the A9 after being told he may be travelling to Perth. Then, around 11.30pm of the same day, they received notification that the vehicle had driven northbound over the Kessock Bridge, prompting officers to take up a position at the Alness Point junction in a marked police vehicle. Fiscal depute Emily Hood said: 'Shortly after, they observed a car matching the description of the accused's. 'The vehicle turned off the A9 at excessive speed and the officers followed, going in the direction of the Westford roundabout.' Officers lost sight of Burke's car but could see tail lights on the B817 so headed in that direction. 'At this point, the officers were travelling roughly 80mph, but the gap between them and the accused was not closing,' the fiscal depute said. The officers managed to confirm the vehicle registration as it slowed and turned onto the B9176. As the car headed towards Evanton, the officers followed behind and noted they were travelling at 83mph on a road limited to 60. Ms Hood said: 'The accused vehicle was seen to be travelling in the centre of the road, straddling the two carriageways whilst negotiating an s-bend and still at excessive speed.' The court heard that this stretch of road featured various warning signs for cyclists and residential properties. When officers activated blue lights for Burke to stop, he 'made off at speed, taking a left-hand bend at speed and then approaching the entrance to Evanton'. The speed limit reduced to 30mph, but officers estimated that Burke's car was travelling at 90mph. 'His vehicle was seen to hit a speed calming bump and leave the ground completely,' Ms Hood told Sheriff Ian Cruickshank. At this point, officers turned off their lights due to the risks posed and lost sight of the Toyota. They later spotted it again before Burke performed a u-turn in the road and once again disappeared. He was later traced and admitted he had been the driver. The vehicle was searched and officers found a meat cleaver between the driver's seat and centre console. 'The blade was pointing down and the handle was pointing upward – where it would be accessible to the driver,' Ms Hood explained. Solicitor David Patterson, for Burke, said his client had suffered from physical and mental health difficulties 'not assisted by consumption of alcohol' He said: 'These offences were not planned – he has impulsive behaviours 'He gets himself into situations, he panics and flight appears to be the preferable option.' Mr Patterson added that his client had expressed genuine remorse and appreciated the harm his actions could cause. Sheriff Ian Cruickshank told Burke: 'This was effectively dangerous driving carried out with the intention to evade the police officers who were in pursuit of you. 'I have heard you drove at grossly excessive speed up to 90mph – that included driving in this fashion in built-up areas. 'There is no alternative but to impose a custodial sentence.' He jailed Burke, of Burgage Drive, Tain, for 18 months backdated to May 6 of this year and disqualified him from driving for 31 months.
