Guards had to ease back in pursuit of dangerous driver (19)

Gardaí were forced to pull back from the pursuit of a driver over safety fears, Dundalk district court has heard.

Before the court was Patrick Thompson (19), Bavan, Omeath, who pleaded guilty to a charge of dangerous driving which arose from the incident north of Dundalk on 10 November, 2018.

Evidence was given he tried to flee the scene on foot when his car came to a stop after driving into the middle of a roundabout near Dundalk Stadium.

Initially, a plea was offered on the defendant’s behalf to a lesser charge of careless driving. However, neither prosecuting gardaí or Judge McKiernan were prepared to accept it after evidence was heard.

The judge noted she couldn’t reduce the charge in the circumstances.

She gave solicitor Ciarán Hughes some time to confer with his client and when the case was recalled a plea of guilty was tendered to dangerous driving.

Sgt Fintan McGroder said that at 11pm on 10 November, 2018, gardai became suspicious of a Toyota Corolla which drove from Quay Street onto the Inner Relief Road.

It was decided to stop the car but when gardaí activated the blue lights on their vehicle the Corolla accelerated at speed in the direction of the racecourse.

It went onto the Racecourse Road at speed, overtaking several vehicles while driving recklessly.

Sgt McGroder said gardaí had to pull back in their pursuit.

Subsequently, at the Red Cow Roundabout the driver overtook two vehicles at high speed.

He skidded, collided with the kerb and went onto the middle of the roundabout.

The car came to a stop facing in the direction of the Ballymascanlon Roundabout.

Thompson attempted to flee on foot and was arrested.

Mr Hughes said his client has no previous convictions.

He left school at 16 and had a good work history. He was unemployed for the last two weeks.

The solicitor added the accused’s driving on this occasion was ‘well below the standard required’. He didn’t stop and was chased by the guards.

Thompson suffers from anxiety and panic attacks, and Mr Hughes urged the judge to look at this as an isolated incident.

He asked for leniency. Judge McKiernan fined Thompson €200 for dangerous driving and disqualified him from driving for two years.

Other charges were taken into consideration.