Boy of 16 drove stolen car the wrong way on the M50 seven times before ramming two garda vehicles, court hears

From the Newshound archive · first published 19 September 2026.

A 16-year-old faced Dublin Children's Court on Friday charged with stealing a Toyota car and seven counts of dangerous driving following a harrowing incident in north Dublin on Thursday evening in which he repeatedly drove into oncoming traffic. He went against traffic on roundabouts three times, overtook vehicles on the wrong side of roads in Finglas, took a M50 slip road the wrong way at Junction 5, and struck a civilian car. Gardaí mounted a managed containment operation before he eventually hit two garda vehicles on the Swords Road and was brought to a stop. A second teenager was released pending referral to the Youth Diversion Programme.

The car had been taken from Coolock, Dublin 17, in the early hours of Wednesday 16 September, two days before the pursuit.

Garda Seán Power opposed bail, informing the court that the boy had been found in the driver's seat and that there were fears he would fail to appear for trial.

The teenager was without legal representation in court because of ongoing solicitors' industrial action over legal aid reforms.