Former Dublin Bus driver jailed after ‘using car as a weapon’ in road crash

By Francis Carroll, The Drogheda Independent

A 55-year-old man has been imprisoned for four years after colliding with a lorry in an incident which a judge has said could easily have killed him and his ex-partner who was a passenger in the car he was driving.

Anthony Smyth, Orchard Villas, Newry, Co. Down, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to a charge of dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm. A second count of endangerment was taken into consideration.

The collision occurred north of Dundalk on May 18, 2024, between Junctions 19 and 20 of the N1, and the woman told gardaí who attended the scene that it was caused deliberately to kill her.

Judge Dara Hayes said that the speed involved of between 100 and 110mph was “dangerous in the extreme”.

It was serious offending. He used his car as a weapon against his ex. He could easily have killed them both.

What occurred had a significant and ongoing impact on the victim.

The judge continued that he accepted as genuine remorse a letter from Mr Smyth, who appeared at Dundalk Circuit Court via video link.

A five-and-a-half year sentence was imposed, the final 18 months suspended, and backdated to May 18, 2024. A 10-year driving disqualification was added.

At a previous hearing evidence was given that the accused and the woman had been in a 32-year relationship which ended in 2023. That September he had been allowed back into the family home in Newry because he had nowhere to go.

On this occasion the victim had been “put in” an Audi Q7. She believed he was bringing her to Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry.

The vehicle was driven south by Mr Smyth before he collided with the rear wheel of a lorry travelling in the same direction, causing the car to “flip”.

The woman alleged that he crashed deliberately into the lorry at more than 100mph as he tried to kill her.

Anthony Smyth, who is originally from Dublin, claimed that it was an accident which occurred when he bent to retrieve a dropped cigarette.

Det Gda Brendan Duffy said that gardaí arrived on the scene at 7.15am. Two articulated trucks were parked on the side of the motorway, while a crashed car was in the overtaking lane.

The car had been on the outside lane. The woman said the defendant began “skirting” between two flat bed lorries travelling in the same direction.

There was a large bang. Smoke was in the car and there was a burning smell. The woman panicked. She couldn’t get the door open. She blacked out for a moment or two.

Dashcam footage from one of the lorries was viewed by the judge.

In a Victim Impact Statement, the woman said she suffered a traumatic brain injury and was left an emotional wreck, unable to work. She couldn’t sleep and had night terrors, leaving her tired and anxious.

"He may be the one on remand in prison, I too have been given a sentence with no limit.”

Mr Smyth’s family had relocated to Newry. He attended Abbey CBS and St Paul’s, Bessbrook.

In 1992, at age 22 he was among the first at the scene when an RUC vehicle was blown up in mortar attack at The Quays, Newry. A female police constable was killed and another officer lost his legs.