Courts / Dublin / Report

Teen who rammed patrol car in garda chase is showing "significant improvement"

Date
2025-05-21
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

In a case heard in November, a 15‑year‑old boy who drove on the wrong side of the M50 and rammed a Garda patrol car was remanded on continuing bail until January. He pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment, assault, unlawful use of a car, dangerous driving and damaging a Garda vehicle. Detective Garda Kate Gilligan's victim impact statement described the danger he posed to himself and other road users, noting her hand was broken when the car door closed on her. Judge Orla Crowe, acknowledging the boy's significant improvement over the past year, adjourned the case to January 12 to allow him to continue his work with the Probation Service. The teenager expressed remorse, thanked the judge, and confirmed his willingness to cooperate with the court and probation. The court noted his cooperation, early guilty plea, and genuine remorse, and that he had not reoffended since his release.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Teen who rammed patrol car in garda chase is showing "significant improvement". Charges or matters: reckless endangerment, assault, unlawful use of a car, dangerous driving, and damaging an official garda vehicle at south Dublin locations along the M50 on August 24, 2023. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

Case subjects

Unnamed 15-year-old

Defendant

Charges: reckless endangerment, assault, unlawful use of a car, dangerous driving, and damaging an official garda vehicle at south Dublin locations along the M50 on August 24, 2023 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: At a sentence hearing last November, Detective Garda Kate Gilligan vividly described in her victim impact statement the danger the then 15-year-old boy was causing to himself and other road users during a garda pursuit.; By Fiona Ferguson A teenager who broke a garda's hand closing a car door after driving on the wrong side of a motorway and ramming a patrol car has been remanded on continuing bail until next January.

Places mentioned

Incident
Journey Or Route

Topics

Road Traffic Stage Sentence Violent Crime

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