Courts / Limerick / Report

Driver who rammed patrol cars fails in bid to overturn conviction

Date
2022-02-14

Stage
Appeal

Court
Limerick Circuit Criminal Court

Primary locality
Limerick

Summary

Daniel Kelly, aged 35, was convicted and jailed for two years after a high‑speed chase in County Limerick. He had repeatedly rammed Garda patrol cars, driven at 130 kph in 80 kph zones, and collided with other vehicles while evading arrest. The jury found him guilty of one count of damaging property, one count of endangerment, and three counts of dangerous driving. He was banned from driving for six years. Kelly appealed, claiming the trial judge erred in law and fact, and that the judge failed to properly instruct the jury on the lack of forensic examination of his van. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, ruling that the judge's conduct was not unfair and that the jury instructions were adequate. The convictions and bans remain in force.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Driver who rammed patrol cars fails in bid to overturn conviction. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

October 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
August 8, 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
2022-02-14 Publication

Why: Mr Justice Edwards explained that the case before the court was that it had been claimed the defence counsel had been "inhibited from making submissions that he wished to make by the judge's haste in considering a directions application" in respect of the endangerment count. Defence account reported by CNI

Case subjects

Unnamed man

Appellant

Outcome: A man who was jailed for two years after he twice rammed a garda patrol car before embarking on a high-speed cross-country chase has lost an appeal against his conviction for dangerous driving and endangerment.