Courts / Dublin / Report
Disqualified driver swerved onto wrong side of the road at 140km/hr during garda chase
Summary
Michael Daly, 27, of Knockmore Grove, Tallaght, was jailed for three years and nine months after a high‑speed chase on the N81. He drove a stolen Ford Transit van without a licence or insurance, swerved onto the wrong side of the road at up to 140 km/h, and attempted to hit Garda patrol cars. The chase caused €10,000 of damage to a patrol car and forced a Garda to run into a garden to avoid being struck. Daly pleaded guilty to endangerment, unlawful use of a vehicle, driving without insurance and two counts of criminal damage. He had been disqualified from driving since 2022 and had previous convictions for drugs and public order offences. The judge, after considering his guilty pleas and mitigating factors, imposed the sentence and a four‑year driving disqualification.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Disqualified driver swerved onto wrong side of the road at 140km/hr during garda chase. Charges or matters: endangerment, unlawful use of mechanically propelled vehicle without the consent of the owner, driving without insurance and two counts of criminal damage. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- May 4 Incident
- 2025-11-12 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: endangerment, unlawful use of mechanically propelled vehicle without the consent of the owner, driving without insurance and two counts of criminal damage (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Having considered the mitigation including the guilty pleas, Judge Nolan imposed a sentence of three years and nine months backdated to when Daly went into custody. He also disqualified Daly from driving for four years.
Places mentioned
Topics
Drugs Public Order Road Traffic Stage Sentence Theft
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