Richard Mansfield jailed for dangerous driving in Tallaght

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

Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Richard Mansfield at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four and a half years in prison, suspending the final 18 months on strict conditions including two years of engagement with the Probation Service after release, and banned him from driving for four years. The proceedings were reported on 26 January 2016.

Mansfield pleaded guilty to two charges of endangerment, taking a vehicle and dangerous driving. The offences occurred at Tallaght Bypass on 7 January 2015.

The report said Mansfield accelerated across three lanes and performed a handbrake turn into oncoming rush-hour traffic while evading gardaí in a stolen BMW. He narrowly missed a second patrol car, and pedestrians crossing the bypass had to jump out of his way. Garda Alan Young said traffic was very heavy and motorists had to take evasive action.

Mansfield admitted to gardaí that he had smoked cannabis before driving. Garda Young said he had 60 previous convictions, including dangerous driving, burglary and possession of drugs.

Keith Spencer BL, defending, said Mansfield had been addicted to tablets but was now clean of all drugs. Garda Young rejected the suggestion of addiction, while accepting that Mansfield used drugs. Counsel also cited the promise of a job and support from his partner, parents and grandparents.

Judge Greally said the driving exposed a large number of people, including gardaí, to serious injury or death. She accepted that Mansfield had a supportive family and girlfriend and time to build a positive life.