Security man jumped onto bonnet to stop thief

A security guard was uninjured after lying across the bonnet of a car to prevent a drunken shoplifter from leaving a store car park.

The driver, Martin Mongan (48), of 1 Ard an Choiste, Headford Road, was sentenced to five months in prison and disqualified from driving for six years at Galway District Court for driving dangerously at the Dunnes Stores car park in Terryland on November 29 last.

Mongan pleaded guilty to the driving offence and to the theft of alcohol from the store on the same occasion.

He also admitted not having insurance at the time and was given a consecutive three-month sentence for that along with a concurrent six- year disqualification.

Mongan further pleaded guilty to the theft of a €45 hamper from McCambridge’s in Shop Street on December 4 last.

A four-month prison sentence was imposed for that offence which was suspended for twelve months on condition Mongan stay away from all Dunnes Stores premises and from McCambridge’s for the next twelve months.

Inspector Mick Dwyer told the court that Gardai were called to the Dunnes Stores car park in Terryland at 2.45p.m. on November 29 last after Mongan tried to flee in a car having tried to steal a case of cider worth €25 from the store.

He was followed outside by two security guards and dropped the cider before getting into a car.

Insp Dwyer said Mongan drove away dangerously.  He said one security guard was pinned up against the car without being hit, but a second security guard was hit and leapt on the bonnet when Mongan drove off in a dangerous manner.

He said no injuries were sustained on the day by either security guard.

Mongan later admitted to Gardai that he was already disqualified from driving at the time and did not have insurance.

Insp Dwyer said the accused had 28 previous convictions, including some for thefts and he had been disqualified from driving for six years in 2012 for drunken driving.

Defence solicitor, Alma Whelan said all of the goods were recovered. All of the offences occurred within a short space of time during which her client had been separated from his wife and was drinking heavily.

She said Mongan’s wife had since taken him back and he was not drinking now.

Mongan, she said, didn’t know the men were security guards as they were dressed in plain clothes.  She said Mongan did not drive the car at the men and one security guard had said in his statement to Gardai that he had got on the bonnet to try and stop Mongan from leaving the car park.

“It’s a miracle he didn’t hit him,” Judge Fahy observed.