Jason Desmond (32), of Grange Abbey Drive, Donaghmede, Dublin 13, appeared before Cloverhill District Court charged with hijacking, false imprisonment and theft offences arising from incidents on July 25, 2025.

The court heard that at about 1.21 am, a taxi driver picked up a man on the Malahide Road who asked to be taken to Circle K, Donaghmede Shopping Centre. After the first passenger got into the front seat, several other men entered the taxi.

At Circle K, the group went into the shop and returned with several bottles of alcohol and energy drinks. When the driver asked whether they had paid, Mr Desmond allegedly produced a kitchen knife and told him to drive on.

The driver brought the group to Belcamp Gardens in Priorswood, Darndale, Dublin 17 where they left the taxi without paying the €40 fare and took the stolen goods with them, the court was told.

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Gardaí later found the men at the property, where they were asleep inside, with the stolen items allegedly strewn across the apartment. Mr Desmond was arrested and detained at Coolock Garda Station, where the court heard admissions were made to theft-related offences.

The court heard the accused has long-term addiction issues, particularly with cocaine.

Objecting to bail under the O’Callaghan principles, Garda Crowley cited the serious nature of the allegations, the strength of the evidence, the likelihood of a custodial sentence if convicted, and fears the accused would commit further offences if released.

Mr Desmond is charged with unlawfully exercising control of a taxi by intimidation involving the alleged production of a knife, falsely imprisoning the driver, making off without paying the fare and stealing alcohol and cans of energy drink – including 16 bottles of rosé gin and 16 bottles of Freixenet Pinot Grigio wine – worth €961.60 from Circle K in Donaghmede, and allegedly producing a kitchen knife during the incident.

Judge Alan Mitchell said he was satisfied there was a high probability the accused would not appear for trial or would re-offend if released, and he refused bail under the O’Callaghan rules.

The case was sent forward to the Circuit Court for trial.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme