Louth man (20) who drove ‘like a lunatic’ during high speed chase jailed for 8 months
A 20-year-old man who led gardaí on a high speed chase in Dundalk when behind the wheel of a Lexus has been told he was “so lucky” not to have killed himself or somebody else.
Brooklyn McGuinness was accused of seven counts of dangerouis driving and having no insurance when his case was listed for hearing before the district court.
When the matter was called his counsel said that guilty pleas were being made to one dangerous driving charge and to uninsured driving on a full facts basis. The other counts were withdrawn by the State.
Barrister Eoghan Fagan said it was driving “of the worst type”, while Judge Nicola Andrews remarked that she found it very troubling that the defendant, who has no previous convictions, would engage in that type of behaviour.
Mr McGuinness, of Aghameen Park, Dundalk, received consecutive six-month prison terms, the final two months of each suspended for 24 months. He was banned from drivng for four years.
Gda Bernard Keown testified that at 8.20pm on May 29, 2025, gardaí were alerted to anti-social behaviour in Tesco Extra carpark, Dundalk.
He spotted a bright yellow Lexus IS200 with tinted windows leave the carpark at speed from the McDonald’s exit.
This car turned left towards Hill Street as the garda car followed with blue lights and sirens activated.
Gda Keown described a series of overtaking manoeuvres by this car, including on continuous white lines, and on the wrong side of a traffic island. It also travelled on the wrong side of the road through an amber light.
Mr McGuinness drove at speeds of 100kmh and 120kmh in a 50kmh zone, 110kmh in a 60kmh zone and also reached 145kmh on a 80kmh zone as it went out the Dublin Road and towards the M1 after turning right at the Xerox junction.
The car had overtaken a bus which was letting out passengers opposite Louth County Hospital, passing it and other vehicles in the process.
It went through a red light at DkIT. The area was busy with other traffic and pedestrians.
Gda Keown said that after the Lexus turned right on a red light at the Xerox junction he attempted to overtake it. The other driver swerved in front of him.
At Crumlin it was travelling at 145kmh in an 80kmh zone when the officer said that he was told to stand down the pursuit.
He saw the car overtake other vehicles before it went onto the motorway northbound. He followed no further from that point.
Gda Keown continued that enquiries established that Brooklyn McGuinness was previously linked to the Lexus.
About an hour later he went to Aghameen Park and encountered the defendant. He said that he had sold the car the previous September and not seen it since.
He was wearing a similar hoodie with an orange print and grey tracksuit bottoms to the person driving the Lexus.
CCTV footage was later put to him, showing him getting out and back into the Lexus and driving around the Tesco carpark before leaving it at speed. He said he was not driving.
“You are so lucky you didn’t kill somebody or yourself. What has been described is utterly outrageous,” Judge Andrews said.
Mr Fagan said it was driving of the worst type. There was no gainsaying the level of driving.
His client, whose parents were present and deeply concerned, worked in a quarry in Ardee.
Judge Andrews said she was worried about other road users in Co. Louth.
The defendant had driven “like a lunatic” without regard for anyone else.
“I find it very troubling that he engaged in that type of behaviour,” the judge added.
The sentences were imposed for dangerous driving at Dublin Road and for no insurance at Tesco Extra.
The withdrawn dangerous driving charges concerned, Tesco Extra carpark; Hill Street; Dublin Road, Mullaharlin and on the N52 at Crumlin, Haggardstown and Heynestown.
Bail to appeal was set at a personal bond of €100.
Legal aid was granted and the court certified for counsel.