Motorist (21) made ‘atrocious’ decision

A 21-year-old man made an ‘atrocious’ decision to drive away away from guards when he had drink taken, Dundalk court has heard.

Dean Carolan, 29 Clós na Manach, Carlingford, was in front of Judge McKiernan for a review of his case.

She told him he was very lucky nobody was killed.

The defendant had pleaded guilty to drink driving, having neither insurance or driving licence and failing to produce those documents at Lower Faughart on 18 November, 2018.

He also admitted four counts of dangerous driving on the same date at Lower Faughart, Newry Road, the N52 and Faughart roundabout.

The judge remarked after reading an ‘extremely favourable’ probation report that she thought Carolan had learned his lesson.

Sgt Fintan McGroder said that at approximately 3am gardaí received a report about a Volkswagen Bora driving erratically on The Ramparts, Dundalk.

They spotted this car at River Lane, and on seeing the officers, the driver took off at speed into Park Street and The Demesne, going through a red light and beeping at pedestrians to get out of the way.

This vehicle continued through the Long Walk, Boyd’s car-park and Bridge Street.

It crossed the bridge onto the Newry Road, still travelling at speed, and on the wrong side of the road ‘for a substantial period of time’.

The Bora then went onto a link road to bring it to the Inner Relief Road. The driver then jammed on the brakes, forcing the pursuing garda vehicle to brake suddenly, and then took off again at high speed.

It went through a roundabout, taking a turn for the Faughart roundabout the wrong way around.

The car took the third exit for Faughart Lower, then jammed on its brakes once more, causing the garda vehicle to collide with the rear.

The Bora spun, Sgt McGroder added, and tried to get away by going back the way it had come. It collided with the patrol car.

Officers had to smash a window before the driver and a front-seat passenger were removed.

The court heard Carolan subsequently gave a breath specimen which showed a reading of 29.

He has no previous convictions, and neither has there been any trouble since.

Barrister Irene Sands said her client had alcohol taken on the night. He made an atrocious decision which was ‘part-panic’.

He was very embarrassed to be before the court, and was very remorseful.

Carolan gets social welfare of €112 perweek, and is due to start a part-time job in restaurant maintenance.

On being asked by the judge, Sgt McGroder said there was no garda objection to the court dealing with one of the dangerous driving charges and striking out the others.

‘You are very lucky nobody was killed or you’d be in an extremely different scenario,’ Judge McKiernan commented.

She imposed a €300 fine and a two-year driving disqualification for dangerous driving.