Courts / Dublin / Report

Jail for 'litany of reckless driving' episodes

Summary

John McDonagh, a 30‑year‑old father of four from Labre Park, Ballyfermot, was sentenced to 20 months in prison after pleading guilty to endangerment, drink driving and driving without insurance. The offences occurred on 27 July 2019 when Gardaí were conducting an alcohol checkpoint on Kilmore Road. McDonagh was signalled to pull over but instead accelerated, overtook other vehicles dangerously, drove the wrong way around a roundabout, and continued at high speed on the M50 and M1 motorways. He was eventually stopped, found over the legal alcohol limit and without insurance. The judge described the conduct as a "litany of episodes of reckless and dangerous driving", noting that McDonagh endangered and terrified other road users. He was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the final 16 months suspended and a four‑year driving ban imposed.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Jail for 'litany of reckless driving' episodes. Charges or matters: endangerment at several locations in Co Dublin and Co Meath on July 27, 2019; drink driving and driving without insurance at Kilmore Road, Ballyfermot, on the same date in July 2019. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• July 27, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
• July 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2020-05-14 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Road Traffic Stage Sentence

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Read the original CNI report