No jail for man driving at ‘insane speed’
A YOUNG man driving at ‘insane speeds’ has escaped jail and a driving ban despite leading gardaí on a 22km chase through small villages in Co. Donegal.
Ciarán Sweeney, 27, was yesterday convicted of dangerous driving at Letterkenny District Court – but was spared a jail sentence due to his volunteer work with a suicide charity.
Sweeney volunteers as a driver operating suicide patrols along waterways. Charity worker Jim Quinn said there is a shortage of volunteer drivers.
Pleading with the court for leniency, Mr Quinn appeared on behalf of Sweeney, and told the court that his charity, which operates driving patrols along the River Foyle between Derry and Donegal, could not get volunteer drivers.
Mr Quinn asked Judge Paul Kelly to be as lenient as he could with Sweeney, adding: ‘He is a great character and gives the other people great motivation. He has pulled us out on many occasions. He is not a bad fella and I honestly believe he will never be in your court again.’
‘We simply cannot get volunteer drivers and this man is highly regarded. I would appeal to you to be as lenient as you can,’ said Mr Quinn.
Solicitor for the accused, Carrie Hegarty told the court that her client was due to travel to New Zealand shortly to take up a three-month work contract. However, he does plan to return to Donegal after that.
Judge Kelly said he previously heard the facts which revealed how Sweeney, of Tamney, Fanad, had been in a convoy of three cars which led gardaí on a 22km pursuit.
The pursuit reached ‘insane speeds’ through small villages and quiet country areas on June 18 last year.
He described the case as ‘extraordinary’ and said he was astonished that the gardaí had applied to strike out all but one charge of dangerous driving against Sweeney, of Tamney, Fanad, Co. Donegal.
He said that such driving could only be met with a custodial sentence and a lengthy driving disqualification.
However, the court had been placed in a quandary with the plea heard by the court from Mr Quinn, he added.
He said the probation service had spoken highly of Sweeney, saying he was unlikely to re-offend and that he had also completed the pro-social driving course.
Judge Kelly said: ‘I have been asked to take a different approach and a risk on this man’s future.’ He sentenced Sweeney to 80 hours community service for a charge of dangerous driving in June last year in lieu of three months in prison.
He added: ‘I hope it is not a course of action that I or a member of the public have cause to regret.’