Road Chase Terror

September 2008

TWO Garda patrol cars were rammed during a high speed chase through the Wicklow hills on Saturday night.

The stolen car was driven through Roundwood’s Main Street, past the scene of last week’s tragic accident, at speeds in excess of 100 km/h between 10.30 p.m. and 11 p.m.

The car, a Ford Fiesta, was stolen in Newtownmountkennedy on Saturday night.

Gardaí in a patrol car spotted it and were led on a chase from Newtown to Roundwood at high speed.

The chase continued to Annamoe and back to Ashford. A Garda checkpoint was set up at Annagowlan near the Devil’s Glen in Ashford.

The stolen car rammed the Garda cars, forcing its way past and causing minor damage.

The driver then turned back towards Ballyduff Cross where he abandoned the car and took to the fields.

Six Gardai gave chase but were unable to catch the suspect. Their investigation is continuing and they are now following a definite line of enquiry.

Four patrol cars were involved in the chase and Gardaí from Operation Baseline, the unit set up to combat crime in rural areas, also came to their assistance. A spokesperson for the Gardaí in Wicklow said that it was lucky that a second tragedy was avoided in Roundwood, less than a week after a man was killed when he was struck by a car while he was crossing Main Street.