Letterkenny man in court charged with unlawful taking of car from delivery driver

A man charged with the unauthorised taking of a car in Letterkenny is alleged to have made off without paying for fuel in County Tipperary. 

David Orr has been charged with taking a Toyota Yaris, belonging to a takeaway delivery driver, in Letterkenny on Sunday, January 26 and failing to pay for €50 worth of petrol from a filling station in Borrisokane on Monday, January 27. 

Orr, 20, of Ballymacool Wood, Letterkenny appeared before Buncrana District Court, in connection with a number of alleged offences, including the possession of a knife in a busy Letterkenny pub.

Orr has been charged that, on January 26, 2025 at Oliver Plunkett Road, Letterkenny, he unlawfully took possession of a mechanically propelled vehicle without the consent of the owner, Yassine Chaher, or without lawful authority. The charge is contrary to section 112 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961 (as amended by section 65 of the Road Traffic Act 1968 and as amended by section 18 of the Road Traffic Act, 2006).

Orr is alleged to have obtained petrol to the value of €50.38 from O’Brien’s Spar Shop, Borrisokane, Co Tipperary on January 27, 2025 and knowing that payment on the spot was required or expected that he did dishonestly make off without paying.

An attempted use of a bank card that was in the car taken from Letterkenny is alleged to have occurred in Tipperary.  

Orr is also charged that he did have a knife which had a blade or which was sharply pointed at Glencar Inn, Letterkenny, on December 18, 2024. The charge is contrary to section 9 (1) and (7) of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act, 1990.

The accused is also charged with two offences alleged to have occurred at Majestic Casino, Ramelton Road, Letterkenny, on November 18, 2024. He is charged that he did, without lawful excuse, damage property, namely a roulette table, belonging to Majestic Casino and he is further charged that he did steal property, to wit, a money container from a roulette table to the value of €20, the property of Majestic Casino.

Mr Rory O’Brien, solicitor for Orr, informed the court that his client “denies that he was in Tipperary”.

Sergeant Jim Collins told the court that An Garda Síochána was objecting to bail being granted. 

After considering the submissions of Sergeant Collins and Mr O’Brien, Judge Ciaran Liddy granted bail.

Judge Liddy said it was “very much a borderline case” and noted that Orr is “quite young”.

“There was a strong case made out by the prosecution, but on balance I am minded to grant bail,” Judge Liddy said.

Bail was granted on condition that Orr sign on daily at Letterkenny Garda Station and obey a curfew from 10pm-7am. Orr was also ordered to provide gardai with a telephone number and be contactable 24-7.

Legal aid was granted to Mr O’Brien and the case was adjourned to allow for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).