Courts / Dublin / Report
Driver spared second ban after unmarked garda car followed him before ditch crash
Summary
On 22 January 2025, Ahmed Ramic, 26, of Brookview Court, Tallaght, crashed a DriveYou car‑sharing vehicle into a ditch on Killakee Road, Rathfarnham, after Garda Mark Cullen, in an unmarked patrol car, attempted to stop it. Cullen had been patrolling because several DriveYou cars had been reported stolen. He followed the vehicle for about a minute at speed before it left the road and crashed. Ramic had initially pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving under section 53, but the court accepted a plea to the lesser section 52 careless driving charge. Defence counsel argued Ramic was unaware of the unmarked Garda car and that the vehicle belonged to his former girlfriend's father. The court found the driving reached the threshold for careless but not dangerous driving, spared Ramic a second disqualification, and remanded him to a restorative‑justice driving‑awareness programme with the case adjourned to 13 February. The judge noted Ramic's remorse and disappointment.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Driver spared second ban after unmarked garda car followed him before ditch crash. Charges or matters: careless driving and driving without a licence arising out of the incident on Killakee Road, Rathfarnham, on 22 January, 2025; dangerous driving under section 53, but the court accepted a plea to the lesser section 52 careless driving charge after hearing the evidence. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial
When:
- 22 January Incident
- 13 February Adjournment
- 2025-11-18 Publication
Why: Tallaght District Court heard that Garda Mark Cullen was on patrol in an unmarked car shortly after midnight and attempted to stop the DriveYou vehicle, because he said "a lot" of cars from the service had been reported stolen at the time. Court evidence reported by CNI
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: careless driving and driving without a licence arising out of the incident on Killakee Road, Rathfarnham, on 22 January, 2025; dangerous driving under section 53, but the court accepted a plea to the lesser section 52 careless driving charge after hearing the evidence (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: She agreed to leave Mr Ramic without a second disqualification and remanded him continuing bail to engage with a restorative-justice driving-awareness programme, with the case adjourned to 13 February next.
Places mentioned
Topics
Road Traffic Stage Charge Or Pretrial Theft
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