Convicted rapist jailed for stealing milk delivery van

By Claire Henry

A convicted rapist has been jailed for his role in the taking of a milk delivery van while the driver’s daughter was in the back.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard Jamie Murray Kinsella (34), previously of St Ronan’s Park, Clondalkin, Dublin, plead guilty to multiple counts of dangerous driving, to the unlawful taking of a vehicle and assault on May 12, 2025, at various locations in the Saggart and Tallaght areas.

Murray Kinsella has 74 previous convictions, with 41 of them from the Circuit Court and one Central Criminal Court conviction for rape.

Detective Garda Alan Sheridan told Oisin Clarke BL, prosecuting, that on May 11, 2025, at 11.30 pm, a man in his seventies and his daughter in her forties began a milk delivery shift. At approximately 12.50 am on the morning of May 12, the man got out of his van, and his daughter was in the back arranging a delivery.

Two men approached him, one of whom was Murray Kinsella, and asked for a lift. The man refused to give them a lift, and moments later the two men got into the running van and drove off. The man was extremely concerned as his daughter was still in the back of the van and the back door was open. The court heard the woman was frightened and screaming from the back of the van.

As the van drove away, the van door swung out and hit the milkman. The van also struck several parked cars. The van travelled three and a half kilometres, and when it stopped at traffic lights, the woman managed to get out.

The court heard that gardai were alerted, but they did not know that the woman had managed to flee the van. Gardai observed the van driving at high speeds, swerving across country roads and hitting the ditch. At one stage the van stopped and began to reverse towards a garda car, but it did not strike it. The van eventually came to a stop when Murray Kinsella lost control. Both men fled the van but were arrested.

During interview, Murray Kinsella denied any involvement but later made admissions. He also said that he had taken tablets on the night in question and could not remember much.

Both injured parties escaped with only minor injuries but have suffered psychological trauma.  Two victim impact statements were handed into the court and not read aloud. The court heard that the van travelled a total of 24km.

Gda Sheridan agreed with Sarah Connolly BL, defending, that her client was highly intoxicated and had taken a high quantity of tablets on the night in question.

The Garda agreed with counsel that Murray Kinsella had a chronic drug addiction and commits offences to feed his habit. He also agreed that during his garda interview he said sorry for his actions and showed regret for his actions.

Ms Connolly said her client is engaging with education, is an enhanced prisoner and is now drug-free.

Counsel said Murray Kinsella saw a man being shot when he was nine years old and began taking cannabis at this age. He was expelled from school at 12 and has no formal qualifications.

She said at the age of 17 he turned to cocaine and tablets and received his first conviction at the age of 18. She said Murray Kinsella has spent much of his young life in custody.

Ms Connolly said her client offers an apology to both injured parties. She said he understands his offending and he has insight. She asked the court to be as lenient as possible.

Passing sentence on Friday, Judge Martin Nolan said, “This man took a van with a woman in the back. He said that at the time Murray Kinsella may not have known she was there, but by the evidence before the court he must have become aware she was there.”

Judge Nolan said this van travelled for 3.5 km before the woman could escape. Noting that her father must have been traumatised knowing that his daughter had been taken in the van.

The judge said Murray Kinsella has a long history of offending, which he must take into consideration.

Judge Nolan said, “Will this man reoffend in the future? Well, the jury is out.”  He noted the expressions of remorse and the steps he has taken while in custody to rehabilitate as mitigating factors.

Judge Nolan sentenced Murray Kinsella to five years and nine months in prison and backdated this to when he went into custody on this matter. He also disqualified him from driving for five years.