Prison for fugitive who had children in car during chase

AN ON-THE-RUN criminal who led gardaí on a high-speed car chase with four young children in the car has been jailed for three years.

Giving details of the incident at Cavan District Court, Garda Aisling Smith said Hughie O’Donoghue, 21, had ‘no fear of the cars’ on the road and ‘drove at speed to a culde-sac’ on April 24.

She said she feared he would take off on foot, which he did. Three patrol cars pursued O’Donoghue, who is from Kells, Co. Meath.

Garda Smith said she went back to his vehicle, a Skoda Octavia, and saw a female in the passenger seat and four children in the back.

She said the children were aged six, four, 18 months and five months.

The court heard the five-monthold baby, who is O’Donoghue’s, was strapped in while the other children had no car seats and were not wearing seat belts.

Garda Smith said the six-year-old was ‘distressed’.

O’Donoghue remained at large until May 19, when gardaí went to his house at Killians Court, Mullagh, Co. Cavan.

They found the father of one hiding in the attic, the court heard.

He pleaded guilty to intentionally engaging in reckless conduct which created a substantial risk of death or serious harm to another.

He also admitted having no insurance, tax or NCT, and driving without a licence, as well as escaping from lawful custody.

O’Donoghue, who has 16 previous convictions, is already serving a sentence for threats to kill.