Courts / Louth / Report

Double murder trial hears of high speed chase in North

Date
2017-10-23

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Louth

County
Louth

Summary

In a double murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, the jury heard details of a high‑speed police chase in Newry that followed the discovery of a burning car containing two bodies. The case concerns Jason O'Driscoll, 34, of Richmond Avenue, Fairview, who is charged with murdering Dubliners Anthony Burnett and Joseph Redmond on 7 March 2012. Firefighters responded to a blaze at Ravensdale Forest Park before 11 o'clock that night, finding two bodies with gunshot wounds to the head. Constable Simon Pringle testified that he was on duty in Newry at the time and observed a silver Mercedes, unregistered, moving toward his patrol car while being pursued by a police vehicle with blue lights. The chase, occurring in a 30 mph zone, was reportedly at 70–80 mph when the Mercedes was lost. Jason O'Driscoll pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Double murder trial hears of high speed chase in North. Charges or matters: murdering car thieves Anthony Burnett and Joseph Redmond on March 7th, 2012. Procedural stage: trial

When:

March 7th, 2012 Hearing Or Sentence
2017-10-23 Publication

Why: He explained that this was in a 30 mile-per-hour zone, but that they were 'definitely' travelling at 70/80 mph when his heavy vehicle lost the Mercedes. CNI source report