Courts / Dublin / Report
Driver who switched off headlights in effort to evade gardai fails in sentence appeal
Summary
A man who drove in an "unacceptable and dangerous" manner, turning off his headlights to evade gardai, has had his three-month jail term and six-year road ban affirmed on appeal. Kristian Kearney, 26, was convicted in the District Court of two counts of dangerous driving and was sentenced to three months imprisonment and disqualified from driving for six years. He later lodged an appeal against the severity of his sentence. Sergeant Shay Leonard testified that on March 1, 2024, gardai observed a car doing "doughnuts" on the road and wheel spins. The car failed to stop and exceeded the speed limit, with the driver switching off his headlights to evade gardai. Kearney argued that there was no evidence of him speeding and that he was not doing doughnuts, but Judge Christopher Callan stated that the manner in which Kearney was driving was dangerous and that the evidence showed he did not stop. The judge affirmed the orders of the District Court, stating that the evidence was the evidence and that the disqualification order would not be interfered with.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Driver who switched off headlights in effort to evade gardai fails in sentence appeal. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted
When:
- March 1, 2024 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2026-07-28 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; He was sentenced to three months imprisonment and disqualified from driving for six years. Judge Callan said that he would suspend the prison sentence, to which Kearney replied that he had served it.
Places mentioned
- District Court Appeals Court
- Cruiserath Road
- Dublin
- Kilshane Road
Topics
Related court reports
- Man charged with having 56k child abuse images and videos remanded on bail
- Ex-Dáil hopeful's allegations against former employer 'complete fantasy', WRC told
- Mater must pay €10k to worker who said he was wrongly accused of abusing patient
- 'I think we know I won't be getting bail' - Daniel Kinahan charged with directing criminal organisation
- Letting agent who claimed alleged domestic violence victim abandoned tenancy by fleeing to refuge must pay €14.7k
- 77-year-old with 470 convictions told Luas staff to 'f**k off'
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request