Man charged with stealing four vehicles

A judge has accepted jurisdiction on a number of charges of unauthorised taking of vehicles alleged to have occurred over the course of two days in December and one day in January.

In total, Laurence Ward (19), with an address of Saint Joseph’s Park, Killimor, Galway, is charged with stealing four vehicles belonging to others, as well as a number of other road traffic offences.

On December 8, 2025, a Toyota Prius parked at KFC was left with the keys inside, the court heard, and it is alleged that Mr Ward got into the vehicle and drove it out of the carpark, where he was stopped by the owner of the vehicle.

Gardaí were called and Mr Ward was allegedly found with a small amount of cannabis on his person, resulting in a charge of possession of a controlled drug.

Two days later, on December 10, at 5.50pm, Mr Ward is accused of stealing €160 from a vehicle parked outside KFC, Athlone, which was left unlocked. He admitted to the offence, the court was told.

That same day, at 8.20pm, he is charged with the unauthorised taking of a Seat Ateca, which was parked outside Golden Island Shopping Centre with the engine left running. The injured party returned and the vehicle was gone.

Mr Ward is charged with driving that vehicle without insurance, driving it without a licence, dangerous driving in that vehicle, and a hit and run, which caused damage to another vehicle.

Again, on December 10, at 8.50pm, another vehicle was parked outside a garage at Golden Island for repair. It is alleged Mr Ward entered the garage and asked them to jumpstart the vehicle. They did so, as they believed the vehicle to be his.

He is charged with the unauthorised taking of that vehicle, as well as driving it without insurance and licence. The vehicle was recovered in Killimor and was “written off”, the court heard.

A final charge on that particular day relates to the stealing of a set of Beats earbuds worth €300 on Payne’s Lane, Athlone.

On January 31, 2026, a vehicle was parked at Circle K, Dublin Road, Athlone, with the keys left inside. It is alleged Mr Ward entered the vehicle and drove away.

He admitted to unauthorised taking of the vehicle when questioned by Gardaí, the court heard, and the car was later recovered at Killimor.

Judge Owens remanded Mr Ward on continuing bail to May 27, when he is expected to enter a plea or request a hearing day.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme