Courts / Louth / Report
Teen led gardai on 40 min chase while 'going to meet girl'
Summary
Tadhg Keely, 19, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for stealing a Toyota Aqua from Belview Court, Blackrock, Co Dublin, and endangerment on the N81 Tallaght bypass. He pleaded guilty to these charges and further admitted to dangerous driving on the N7 in Naas, Co Kildare. Judge Martin Nolan described the incident as extremely dangerous, noting Keely's "disgraceful behaviour" when he drove through traffic cones, forcing a workman to "jump for his life." The court heard Keely led ten garda patrol cars on a 40-minute chase at speeds exceeding 160km/h, blowing two tyres and driving on the wrong side of the road. He was sentenced to three and a half years in prison, with the final year suspended due to his young age, guilty plea, and difficult background. Judge Nolan disqualified Keely from driving for three years and ordered one year of probation supervision upon release. Keely, who has 36 previous convictions, was in State care at the time. The matter was finalised with this sentence.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Teen led gardai on 40 min chase while 'going to meet girl'. Charges or matters: stealing a Toyota Aqua from Belview Court, Blackrock, Co Dublin, on the night in question and also to one count of endangerment on the N81 Tallaght bypass. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- August 10, 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2024-01-25 Publication
Why: He was raised by his maternal grandmother, who eventually had to put him out because of his behaviour, and he lived in ten different foster care placements. CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: stealing a Toyota Aqua from Belview Court, Blackrock, Co Dublin, on the night in question and also to one count of endangerment on the N81 Tallaght bypass (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Passing sentence today, Judge Martin Nolan said it was an extremely dangerous incident and that a workman had had to "jump for his life" when Keely drove through traffic cones surrounding roadworks. "His behaviour on this night was disgraceful," Judge Nolan said before suspending the final year of the sentence on the basis of Keely's young age, guilty plea and difficult background. Judge Nolan disqualified Keely from driving for three years and ordered him to undergo probation supervision for one year on release from prison.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Ballymore Eustace
- Tallaght
- Naas
- Kildare
- Monread Road
- St Bridget's Terrace
Topics
Road Traffic Stage Sentence Theft
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