Courts / Dublin / Report

Jail for man who led gardai on high speed chase in €100 car

Date
2017-05-19

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

John McDonagh, 20, of Clondalkin, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to endangerment and dangerous driving charges arising from incidents on 9 August 2016. The defendant admitted to leading gardaí on a high-speed chase in a Nissan Almera, which he had purchased for €100. Prosecution evidence detailed that McDonagh accelerated past a checkpoint, forcing a garda to jump into the road to avoid being hit. He subsequently drove over 120kph in a 60kph zone, drove on the wrong side of the road, and forced his way through traffic at the Kylemore junction. Garda Vincent Daly testified that McDonagh intentionally drove head-on toward the garda vehicle, causing it to swerve to avoid a collision. Although McDonagh surrendered to officers at Ballyfermot Garda Station, he failed to produce driving documents. In mitigation, his counsel highlighted his lack of previous convictions and his role as a carer for a sister with special needs. Judge Martin Nolan described the incidents as "very, very serious," noting that the garda could have been killed. The judge imposed a five-year prison sentence, with the final three and a half years suspended. McDonagh's mother was present in court during the sentencing.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Jail for man who led gardai on high speed chase in €100 car. Charges or matters: endangerment and dangerous driving at locations in Clondalkin, Dublin on 9 August 2016. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

9 August 2016 Incident
2017-05-19 Publication

Why: Instead, he sped up, and the guard had to jump out of the lane in order to avoid being hit. CNI source report

Case subjects

John McDonagh

Defendant

Charges: endangerment and dangerous driving at locations in Clondalkin, Dublin on 9 August 2016 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Judge Nolan referred to the incidents as "very, very serious" and imposed a five year prison sentence, with the final three and a half years suspended. Mr McDonagh's mother began to cry in court as her son accepted his sentence.