Courts / Dublin / Report

"Nothing short of miraculous" that no one injured during 180kmh chase

Date
2019-01-25

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

A 23-year-old man has been sentenced to three and a half years imprisonment, with the final twelve months suspended, following a high-speed car chase across Kildare and Dublin last May. Christopher Prentice, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to unlawfully using a stolen vehicle and three counts of dangerous driving. The court heard that gardaí observed Prentice driving a jeep reported stolen on the Naas Road and pursued him as he drove at speeds exceeding 180 kilometres per hour, broke red lights, crossed lanes, and forced oncoming traffic to swerve. The chase ended when Prentice lost control, mounted a kerb, and came to a stop on Raphoe Road. Judge Melanie Greally described it as miraculous that no injuries or damage occurred. Prentice was also disqualified from driving for five years. He has thirty-three previous convictions. The sentence was backdated to May.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: "Nothing short of miraculous" that no one injured during 180kmh chase. Charges or matters: one count of unlawfully using a car in Crumlin on May 3, last. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

May 3 Hearing Or Sentence
2019-01-25 Publication

Case subjects

Christopher Prentice

Convicted Person

Charges: one count of unlawfully using a car in Crumlin on May 3, last (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Prentice, of Brookview Gardens, Tallaght, Dublin was sentenced to three and a half years in jail with the final 12 months suspended. Passing sentence today, Judge Melanie Greally said that what started out as the straightforward theft of a car turned into an extremely serious incident of dangerous driving, prompted by the fact that gardaí saw Prentice in the car when the theft was reported. "He drove in a manner which was exceedingly dangerous and it was nothing short of miraculous that no damage was done or no injury to other road users by reason of his outrageous speed, breaking lights, crossing lanes, driving through junctions and forcing cars out of lane," said the judge.