Courts / Dublin / Report
Robber who repeatedly rammed garda cars is jailed
Summary
Keith Duffy, aged 31, was sentenced to five and a half years' imprisonment for endangerment, dangerous driving and criminal damage after a high‑speed chase that ended with him repeatedly ramming a Garda patrol car. The incident, which took place on 30 March 2018 in the Dublin 7 area, involved a 26‑minute pursuit that saw Duffy's van stop on a humpback bridge, wait for the patrol car, and then attempt to ram it, forcing the vehicle onto the footpath. Two other patrol cars joined the chase, which concluded when Duffy's van turned into a cul‑de‑sac at Newgrange Road, reversed, and twice rammed another patrol car before being blocked by a third. Garda Sean Kelly described the event as the worst dangerous driving he had encountered in ten years. Duffy, who has 66 prior convictions, pleaded guilty and was also found guilty of robbery at Kiely's Chemist on 29 March 2018, stealing drugs worth €225.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Robber who repeatedly rammed garda cars is jailed. Charges or matters: endangerment, dangerous driving and criminal damage at various locations in the Dublin 7 area on March 30, 2018; robbery at Kiely's Chemist, Ballyfermot Road, Ballyfermot, on March 29, 2018. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- March 30, 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
- March 29, 2018 Incident
- 2019-04-10 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: endangerment, dangerous driving and criminal damage at various locations in the Dublin 7 area on March 30, 2018; robbery at Kiely's Chemist, Ballyfermot Road, Ballyfermot, on March 29, 2018 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Pauline Codd sentenced Duffy to five and a half years imprisonment, but suspended the final 18 months on condition that he keep the peace and be of good behaviour and follow the directions of the Probation Service for a period of 18 months. Judge Codd also sentenced him three years imprisonment for the robbery offence, which will run concurrently with the other sentence.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Dublin
- Newgrange Road
- Ballyfermot Road
Topics
Drugs Road Traffic Stage Sentence Theft
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