Courts / Dublin / Report
Wheelchair-bound motorist threatened to strike gardai with his wheelchair after crashing BMW
Summary
Philip Dunne, a 29‑year‑old wheelchair user, was convicted after a night of reckless driving and violent conduct. On 14 November 2013 he was driving a BMW 5‑series at excessive speed on Lower Main Street, Rush, lost control and crashed into a parking metre, causing €4,000 in damage. He threatened a good Samaritan, Patrick Butterly, and, when Gardaí arrived, threatened and attempted to strike them with his wheelchair. Dunne pleaded guilty to careless driving, criminal damage, threatening and abusive behaviour and Section 2 assault. A charge of failing to give a blood sample was struck out. Judge Dermot Dempsey fined him €300 for careless driving, €100 for assault, €100 for threatening behaviour, and disqualified him from driving for three months. He also paid €4,000 in compensation to Fingal County Council for the damage. The case was heard at Balbriggan District Court.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Wheelchair-bound motorist threatened to strike gardai with his wheelchair after crashing BMW. Charges or matters: careless driving, causing criminal damage, using threatening and abusive behaviour and Section 2 assault on November 14th, 2013. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- November 14th, 2013 Incident
- 2014-05-30 Publication
Why: Defence solicitor Fiona D'Arcy explained that Dunne was the victim of a vicious assault which left him paralysed from the waist down in 2006. Defence account reported by CNI
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: careless driving, causing criminal damage, using threatening and abusive behaviour and Section 2 assault on November 14th, 2013 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Dempsey said Dunne's behaviour was 'dispicable' and that he cannot see his way out of a disqualification. 'He isn't fit to be driving,' said Judge Dempsey and disqualified him from driving for three months and fined him €300 for careless driving. He further convicted and fined him €100 for assault, €100 for using threatening and abusive behaviour and took the charge of criminal damage into consideration after Dunne paid €4,000 in compensation to Fingal County Council.
Places mentioned
- blood sample at Ballymun Garda Station
- Ballymun
- Balbriggan
- Balbriggan District Court
- Lower Main Street
- Rush
Topics
Road Traffic Stage Sentence Violent Crime
Related court reports
- Man who raped and abused younger cousin as a teenager 40 years ago is jailed
- Woman fears abusive ex-partner's 'next victim may not survive', court hears
- Five years for man who killed pensioner with 'MMA' back spin kick
- Young man who killed pensioner with 'MMA' back spin kick remanded in custody
- Young man killed pensioner with 'back spin kick like MMA'
- Man who attacked and threatened pregnant partner is jailed for two years
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request