Courts / Dublin / Report
Three-month-old in car during high speed chase
Summary
In December 2018, Bernard Kelly, aged 38, led Gardaí on a high‑speed chase that ended with his vehicle colliding with cars waiting to collect children from a school. Kelly, who was driving with his partner and their three‑month‑old child, claimed he continued driving to protect the infant and feared Gardaí would ram his car. He broke red lights, drove on the wrong side of the road, and entered a one‑way road. The chase was halted once he approached the school, but he was later arrested. Kelly pleaded guilty to endangerment and criminal damage to seven vehicles, including a car that was written off and a driver who suffered minor whiplash. He received a five‑and‑a‑half‑year jail sentence, with a four‑and‑a‑half‑year term for endangerment and a one‑year term for possession of stolen property, to be served consecutively. The court noted his 141 prior convictions and struggles with heroin addiction.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Three-month-old in car during high speed chase. Charges or matters: endangerment and to criminal damage of seven vehicles which were damaged when Kelly's car hit them. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- December 21, 2018 Incident
- September 16, 2018 Incident
- Christmas Incident
- 2019-06-26 Publication
Why: Kelly claimed later that he kept driving during the 20 minute pursuit because he wanted to protect the child. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: endangerment and to criminal damage of seven vehicles which were damaged when Kelly's car hit them (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Martin Nolan imposed a sentence of four and a half years for endangerment.
Places mentioned
Topics
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