Courts / Kildare / Report

Repeat roads offender jailed for driving wrong way down motorway

Date
2022-10-20

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Celbridge

County
Kildare

Summary

Lee McMullen, aged 22, pleaded guilty on 31 July 2019 to two counts of endangerment and two counts of dangerous driving after driving a car on the wrong side of a motorway at high speed with its lights off. The incident, which lasted eight to ten minutes, involved McMullen driving at speeds up to 160 km/h, crossing road dividers, and continuing onto the motorway in the outbound lane. Garda Michael Martin chased the vehicle, which eventually broke violently at the Leixlip junction and was abandoned. McMullen was apprehended nearby; passengers were later found in a taxi. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a sentence of 21 months for the endangerment count, with the remaining two years and three months suspended on strict conditions. The sentence reflects McMullen's eight prior convictions and the serious nature of the offence.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Repeat roads offender jailed for driving wrong way down motorway. Charges or matters: two counts of endangerment and two counts of dangerous driving on July 31, 2019, at various locations including Main Street, Celbridge, the N4 and a motorway in the Dublin area. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

July 31, 2019 Other
2022-10-20 Publication

Case subjects

Lee McMullen

Defendant

Charges: two counts of endangerment and two counts of dangerous driving on July 31, 2019, at various locations including Main Street, Celbridge, the N4 and a motorway in the Dublin area (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: He imposed a sentence of four years, with the final two years and three months suspended on strict conditions. He imposed a jail sentence of 21 months in relation to the count of endangerment, with the other counts taken into consideration.