Michael Daly jailed for three years and nine months after Garda pursuit

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Michael Daly was jailed for three years and nine months at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following a Garda pursuit. The proceedings were reported on 12 November 2025.

Daly pleaded guilty to endangerment, unlawful use of a mechanically propelled vehicle without the owner's consent, driving without insurance and two counts of criminal damage.

The court heard that gardaí saw Daly driving a stolen Ford Transit van on 4 May 2025. During the pursuit, he travelled the wrong way along the N81 Tallaght Bypass, overtook cars on blind bends and reached speeds of up to 140km/hr. He struck a patrol car while trying to avoid a stinger, causing €10,000 in damage. A Garda ran into a nearby garden to avoid the van. The pursuit lasted about 10 minutes.

The investigating Garda agreed that Daly said he was trying to avoid the stinger and was not intentionally driving towards the Garda. It was also accepted that Daly said he did not know the van was stolen and had been asked to drop it off because he owed money. The witness agreed there was no link between Daly and the taking of the van.

Daly later made full admissions, accepted that his driving was dangerous and said he had panicked. His barrister, Oisin Clarke, said Daly had been on a drugs binge and had not slept, and asked that his remorse be conveyed to the Garda members affected.

Judge Martin Nolan considered the mitigation, including the guilty pleas, and backdated the sentence to when Daly went into custody. He also disqualified Daly from driving for four years.