Louth grandfather rammed armed gardaí during high speed chase

By Francis Carroll, The Drogheda Independent

A grandfather who led gardaí on a high speed chase has had sentencing adjourned to make alternative arrangements for the care of his elderly mother.

Patrick McGuinness (62) pleaded guilty to charges of endangerment and money laundering following an incident which occurred in 2023.

The defendant, who resided at Mourne Drive, Warrenpoint, Co. Down at the time, had since returned to Kilkerley, Dundalk to look after his mother.

Dundalk Circuit Court heard that he panicked after being spoken to by armed gardaí and drove off. He rammed the pursuing officers on more than one occasion before ending up in a ditch.

The court heard that the money laundering charge related to cash held by another man in the car.

Gda Jack Farrell testified that at 9.30pm on October 20, 2023, members of the Garda Armed Support Unit saw a Northern Ireland-registered Vauxhall Insignia parked on a footpath opposite them in Ardee, Co. Louth.

They drove up alongside and spoke to the driver who identified himself as Patrick McGuinness.

There was a second man in the car. The officers’ suspicions were raised when the defendant was unclear who the man next to him was.

The two men were instructed to remain where they were. However, the Insignia's wheels began spinning and it drove off.

Gardaí attempted to block the car. It hit the rear driver’s side of the Garda vehicle causing the officer to lose control and collide with a wall.

Garda Control was notified that a ramming had taken place.

The Insignia failed to stop on activation of the blue lights. It continued onto a mini roundabout then headed towards Dundalk on the N52.

Mr McGuinness drove at high speed, continuously crossing back and forth on each side of the road.

At Mapastown Bridge gardaí drove directly behind him, with the intention of cutting the car off as it slowed on the approach to the bridge. There was no oncoming traffic.

The defendant struck the left side of the Garda car which veered off the road.

The pursuit continued. There was a further attempt to cut off the Insignia at Clonkeehan. As gardaí overtook him, Mr McGuinness cut across and a collision occurred. The Garda car spun, and the Vauxhall came to a stop in a ditch.

No injuries were caused during the pursuit which lasted approximately 25 minutes, Gda Farrell said.

Both occupants of the car were arrested. The other man had €1,250 on him.

Patrick McGuinness, who has no previous convictions and had not come to attention since, made admissions to driving in an interview. He said that he panicked.

The court heard that he was formerly a farmer who invested in properties north and south of the border.

The defendant lived with his 84-year-old mother in Kilkerley. He was her sole carer.

Defence counsel James McGowan SC said that his client had 2 children and 5 grandchildren, and has been in a new relationship for 10 years.

References were available from the defendant’s accountant and a Newry solicitor, along with a note from his mother’s GP.

Mr McGowan submitted what happened was out of character.

"Have arrangements been made for his mother?” Judge Dara Hayes asked.

Counsel replied that he had three siblings, one in London, one in Galway and another in Newry, with whom relations were “not great”.

Mr McGuinness was due to bring his mother for an assessment the day after the hearing, and had asked if sentencing could be put off.

Judge Hayes adjourned sentencing for arrangements to be made, remanding Patrick McGuinness on the same bail terms to April 20.