FleeingdriverdraggedaGarda alongroadtoavoiddrugssearch
CIRCUIT COURT HEARS GARDA PLEADED WITH THE SPEEDING DRIVER TO STOP THE CAR AS HE FELT HIS LIFE WAS IN DANGER
A Garda told Sigo Circuit Court how he felt his life was in danger as he clung to the car of a fleeing driver who had been asked to submit himself to a drugs search at Cartron Point in April 2013.
Garda John Walsh, since promoted to Sergeant, told the court that he felt his life was in danger as he pleaded with Tommy Corcoran ( 22) to stop.
The Garda said that on the evening of April 19th a number of planned searches were being carried out to disrupt and disband an anti- social gang that had developed in the town and Gardaí had gone to the home of the defendant who lived at Ard Na Mara, Cartron Point at the time, which was the last of five searches.
Sergeant Pat Harney said when Gardaí arrived in the area they saw Corcoran driving out of his driveway at a cul de sac at Ard Na Mara in his 1999 registered Toyota Altezza.
Sergeant Walsh moved himself out on to the road to try to prvent him moving off and approached the car.
Corcoran was told he was going to be searched under the Drugs Act but he put the car into reverse and took off at high speed.
Sergeant Walsh was struck by the bonnet and front wing of the car and ended up being dragged along the road after he grabbed hold of the driver’s window before being flung sideways from it.
Corcoran was later seen fleeing from the car carrying a bag, making his way on to the mud flats at Cartron Bay where he began to throw items into the sea.
He was subsequently arrested and some of the items were recovered which turned out to cannabis herb worth a couple of hundred euro.
Corcoran later told Gardaí that the drug was for his own use, that he smoked about € 200 worth a day and was addicted to it. He said that in total there had been three ounces of the drug.
Corcoran pleaded guilty to having the drug for sale or supply and endangerment to Sergeant Walsh.
Corcoran said he had panicked when the Gardaí approached. He said he got a fright, took off his his car and that all that was in his head was his child.
He told Gardaí that he was sorry and that he wasn’t trying to put any Garda in danger. He regretted taking off.
Cororcan was extradited on February 12th last from England where he fled soon after the incident.
Sgt Harney said Sgt Walsh was removed to hospital where he was treated for head and neck injuries. He was off work for two months and was still receiving physiotherapy.
Witness said that despite falling on top of his head and neck from the car, Sgt Walsh continued with the pursuit of Corcoran that evening.
The defendant had seven previous convictions dating back to 2010 including burglary and handling stolen property along with Public Order offences.
A Probation Report before the dourt dated July 19th last stated that Corcoran said he was now drug free.
Sgt Harney agreed with Ms Aoife O’Leary BL, instructed by Mr Mark Mullaney, solicitor that it would appear Corcoran had settled a bit and had not been in trouble here or in England since.
Ms O’Leary said it would appeaer that the defendant had acted out of panic. He had been leaving his house when he was approached by the Gardaí.
The defendant € 1,000 in court for the Sergeant.
Ms O’Leary added that Corcoran was supplying the cannabis in small amounts in order to support his own habit.
He had spent over two months in custody on the charges following his extradition from England.
Judge Keenan Johnson said that a disconcerting aspect of the case was that the defendant skipped bail and didn’t return until a previous three year suspended sentence imposed was finished.
Sergeant Walsh in a Victim Impact Statement said he had actuially spoke with Corcoran as he was sitting in the car but he took off in an attempt to escape dragging him along for about 100 metres.
“I pleaded with Tommy Corcoran to stop because I knew my life was in danger.
“The reason I knew I was in danger was because I felt stones from the road being flung up by the spinning tyres which hit my teeth and face. I could also see that I was going to strike parked cars on the right hand side of the road.
“When I let go I was actually propelled forward becaise of the speed involved. I was lucky to avoid colliding with parked cars as well as being lucky to avoid being struck by a patrol car that was in pursuit of Mr Corcoran’s car.
“On reflection, the entire experience has allowed me to appreciate how lucky I was to escape being seriously injured. I has made me appreciate how a situation for a member of An Garda Siochana can escalate out of control in virtually a split second,” he said.
Three years on he was still receiving medical attention.
“Psychologically I am reminded almost every day of the actions of Mr Corcoran’s when I suffer pain/ spasm/ stiffness in my back,” he added.
He said that prior to April 2013 he would have net the defendant on an almost daily basis and he indicated at the time that he was in a dark and dangerous place as a result of drug use.
Over the past six months he had met the defendant on numerous occasions and he was now a father of two and was in a long term relationship with his partner, Jamie.
Corcoran’s atttiude towards him and An Garda Siochana and life in general was now positive.
“I genuinely believe he has turned a corner in his life,” said the Sergeant. He accepted Mr Corcoran’s apology and bore no ill feelings towards him.
Judge Johnson commended Garda Walsh for the restraint and magnanimous nature of hisImpact Statement.
“You have shown incredible Christianity and charity,” the Judge told the Sergeant.
Judge Johnson added that Gardaí put their lives on the line to protect citizens and that needed to be acknowledged and the Sergeant did that on this occasion.
The Judge said he was delighted the Garda had since been promoted and that it was well deserved.
Corcoran told the court that he was extremely sorry.
“It was a split second decision,” he said.
He had tried to stay out of trouble since and had done this. He was 19 at the time. He agreed that he left the country after itsaying he was scared, that his child was only a few months old at that stage.
He got work with his father in England. He had consented to his extradition back to Ireland.
Corcoran said he was heavily smoking drugs then.
The defendant accepted Judge Johnson’s remark that the Garda could have been killed and he could have ended up in jail for the rest of his life.
Corcoran said he didn’t know how bad the situation was until the Sergeant gave his Impact Statement.
“I’m shocked. I didn’t understand it was this serious. I am extremely sorry,” he said.
On being told the Sergeant did not want the € 1,000 and that he would prefer if it went to a charity, Corcoran said he had no difficulty with this.
He said he had been planning to return before he was arrested in England and extradited.
Judge Johnson said it was a very serious offence and the Garda could have been fatally injured.
He suffered serious and significant injuries and it was reprehensible and unacceptable that a member of An Garda Siochana be treated in this way.