Longford man stole car on Christmas Day and crashed causing €6,000 damage to property

A 20-year-old man who stole a car and then crashed into the curtilage of a family home causing significant damage at Christmas time will be assessed by the probation services.

Aaron Hartshorn of 13 Hazelwood, Colehill, Longford pleaded guilty at the local district court to the unauthorised taking of a vehicle at Bawn, Moydow, county Longford between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day last.

Sergeant Enda Daly, for the State, said Gardaí received a report of a single vehicle collision in the area shortly after 4.55am on December 25 at a residential property.

Sgt Daly stated the owner of the house along with his daughter heard a loud bang and they looked out to see a Skoda Fabia crash into the fence in their garden.

“[The owner of the house] observed an unknown male driver who was the only occupant try to get out of the vehicle.

"He then helped the male get out of the vehicle and once he was out the family called the Gardaí, and the driver left the scene."

Sgt Daly said a description was taken by Gardaí from the residents and officers, who carried out foot patrol in the area, found a man hiding in the hedging in the vicinity of the area of where the collision occurred.

Judge Bernadette Owens heard the man matched the earlier description given by the family to Gardaí of the man who fled the scene and he was arrested by officers.

Sgt Daly said it was subsequently discovered during Garda enquiries that the vehicle involved in the collision was registered to a woman from Athlone, county Westmeath and it had been stolen from outside Nally's pub in Ballymahon several hours previously.

The court heard the damage to the property where the collision occurred was an estimated €6,000.

Sgt Daly informed Judge Bernadette Owens they were still awaiting invoices to establish the cost of the damage to the car and the defendant had also been charged with two public order breaches arising out of the same incident.

Mr Hartshorn also appeared in court charged with driving with no insurance and without a driving licence on July 10, 2025.

Sgt Daly said Garda Hanley was on patrol at 12.05am at Oakvale when he stopped a Ford Focus, which was searched under the Misue of Drugs Act.

The court heard there was no insurance cert or documentation on the vehicle and the defendant also had no driving licence and the vehicle was subsequently seized.

Mr Hartshorn had 13 previous convictions.

Solicitor John Anderson acknowledged the circumstances were ‘not great’ in terms of the previous convictions.

However, he stated he believed gaining further insight into Mr Hartshorn's behaviour and circumstances may be of benefit to the court.

Mr Anderson said his client had some 'difficulties' and he asked Judge Owens if a probation and welfare report could be requested to see what is going on with this young man."

Mr Anderson informed Judge Owens if his client was released on bail he would be living with his father.

Judge Owens directed a probation report and a victim impact statement be compiled and she remanded the defendant on continuing bail under strict conditions until March 24, 2026 for finalisation with 'liberty to re-enter' should the defendant reoffend during the intervening period.

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