Courts / Dublin / Report

Palestinian who endangered gardai fled to Norway for six years

Date
2017-10-20
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

Nassour Saleh, a 25‑year‑old Palestinian national, was given a suspended two‑year sentence for endangering Gardaí after a high‑speed chase on Navan Road in 2008. He had been 16 at the time and was not licensed to drive. In 2010 he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving without insurance and driving under the influence of cannabis, receiving a six‑month suspended detention and a four‑year driving disqualification. The case was adjourned for a probation report, but Saleh fled to Norway, where he lived and worked as a mechanic for six years. He returned to Ireland last year, was arrested during a random Garda check, and was sentenced by Judge Terence O'Sullivan, who noted the unusual circumstances and the fact that no one was injured. The sentence was suspended on conditions including two years of probation supervision. The court emphasised the protection of front‑line services and the seriousness of the offence.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Palestinian who endangered gardai fled to Norway for six years. Charges or matters: endangering gardaí at the Navan Road, Dublin on September 1, 2008; one count of dangerous driving, one count of driving without insurance and one count of driving under the influence of cannabis in 2010. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

Why: The late Judge Katherine Delahunt had adjourned his sentencing on the endangerment charge in order to get a probation report. CNI source report

Case subjects

Nassour Saleh

Defendant

Charges: endangering gardaí at the Navan Road, Dublin on September 1, 2008; one count of dangerous driving, one count of driving without insurance and one count of driving under the influence of cannabis in 2010 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Saleh was given a suspended detention sentence of six months for those latter counts and he was disqualified from driving for four years. He handed down a two-year sentence and suspended it on a number of conditions, including that Saleh must remain under the supervision of Probation Services for two years. "That means any offence, even jaywalking, is one that might trigger the application of the sentence," he told Saleh, who thanked the judge before leaving court.; The late Judge Katherine Delahunt had adjourned his sentencing on the endangerment charge in order to get a probation report.

Places mentioned

Incident
Court Venue
  • Dublin
  • Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Residence

Topics

Drugs Road Traffic Stage Sentence

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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