Man grabbed a phone from a stranger and drove off injuring him, Dundalk Court heard

A 28-year-old man who grabbed a phone from a stranger and drove off injuring him as he tried to get it back, was given a two year suspended sentence at Dundalk Circuit Court last week.

Ryan Sharkey of Castle House, The Diamond, Clones, County Monaghan was charged with endangerment arising out of the incident in Ardee on August 14th 2022.

The victim was walking home after being out socialising with his phone in his hand, when the defendant, who had been parked on the far side of the street, did a u-turn and started following him with no headlights on.

The man was so concerned for his safety rang Ardee garda station, and while on that call, Ryan Sharkey began shouting abuse at him, as he wrongly believed the victim was recording him.

A scuffle was heard and the phone went dead.

The court heard the man had reached inside the defendant's car to get his phone back, but the car reversed and caused him to fall to the ground, injuring his elbows and knees, although he has since made a full recovery and did not wish to make a victim impact statement.

Judge Dara Hayes said there was no rational explanation for the defendant's behaviour, and the victim had simply been walking home and the vehicle had been used as a weapon in the incident which was entirely unprovoked.

He noted Ryan Sharkey had previously had €5,000 in court for the injured party to show his remorse, and while he had no previous convictions, the case had been adjourned pending a district court hearing for drunk and dangerous driving offences for which he had been given a three month suspended sentence and a four year disqualification.

Judge Hayes said the offending “appears to have been out of character” for the defendant, and he would suspend the two years he was imposing in its entirety on him entering a good behaviour bond. A five year driving ban was also imposed.