Man steals emergency lights from crash to decorate motorbike

A man stole emergency lighting from the scene of a serious car crash on the M50 last year so he could use them to decorate his motorbike, a court has heard.

Paul King (33), from Hillcrest Avenue, Lucan, pleaded guilty and apologised today for the theft of two Mepro emergency lights on December 26th.

Garda Christopher O’Shaughnessy told Dublin District Court that emergency services had been called out to deal with a serious incident.

Special blue flashing LED lights had been placed around the scene to divert motorway traffic from the crash.

Mr O’Shaughnessy, of Blanchardstown Garda station, said the accused slowed to a halt and “lifted two lights off the ground and put them in his car”.

Mr O’Shaughnessy was alerted and pursued King, who pulled over and had his car searched.

The two emergency lights, worth €175, were found in the back of his car, Judge Marian O’Leary heard.

“He did admit taking the lights, and admitted to me that he was taking them to decorate his motorcycle,” Mr O’Shaughnessy said, adding that King had no prior criminal convictions.

Adjourning the case until January, Judge O’Leary ordered that if King paid €150 to the court poor box within three months, she would strike out the case, leaving him with a clean record.

However, she warned that if he failed to pay the money, she would record a conviction and fine him €200 which would have to be paid within three months or he would be jailed for five days.