Thief hijacked car and punched pregnant woman
A MAN who hijacked a car and repeatedly punched a heavily pregnant woman in the passenger seat, will be sentenced next month.
Stephen Comey, 29, has 70 previous convictions and had been released from prison six weeks prior to this offence.
Comey, of Pearse House, Pearse Street, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to unlawful seizure of a car, causing harm and possession of a syringe on May 12, 2014.
Sergeant David Wogan told the court a couple had parked their car in the city centre and the husband went to get a parking ticket, leaving the keys in the ignition, while his seven- and- a- halfmonth-pregnant wife stayed in the car in the passenger seat.
She was turning to get a coat when the driver door opened and a man shouted at her to get out. The car started moving and she had no chance to get out.
She tried to put the gear stick into neutral but Comey punched her in the face, the court heard.
The woman said she did not know how many times she was hit. She tried to get out and called for help. During the struggle, the man tried to push her out as the car was moving. She felt unable to jump due to her pregnancy.
Sergeant Wogan said gardaí saw the silver Audi driving erratically at speed with the front passenger’s door open at the Gardiner Street and Mountjoy Square junction. They saw Comey in the car having a physical altercation with the woman. Her husband was chasing the car.
The car came to a stop on Gardiner Lane and the man could be seen punching the woman. The car took off again towards Gardiner Street and broke a red light before coming to a stop.
Comey grabbed a mobile phone before exiting the car and was put to the ground by the arresting gardaí who found a syringe in his possession.
The court heard he has a ‘tragic background’ but was now anxious to rehabilitate himself.
Judge Patricia Ryan noted that Comey was now drug-free and now had the support of his family. She ordered an updated probation report and said she will finalise sentencing in April.