Man crashed car into house then drove at speed into Garda vehicle

A 25-year-old man who had four previous driving disqualifications drove at speed towards Gardai in a narrow lane and crashed into the patrol car, Trim District Court has heard.

The Gardai were involved in a follow-up pursuit of the man who had earlier driven his car into the front of a woman’s house at Mullagh.

Before the court was Oisin McCann, Abbeytown, Boyle, Co Roscommon who was charged with dangerous driving, driving without insurance, and hit-and-run offences at Rathbane, Moynalty, Kells on 16th March 2020.

Court presenter Sergeant Kevin Moroney told the court that gardai had responded to a call for assistance from a woman who reported that a man had driven a car into the front of her house at Mullagh.

When the gardai arrived at the scene the alleged offending car was not there They heard the sound of an engine revving in the distance and then saw a car speeding towards them.

They then pursued the car and it drove into a laneway which had no room for two vehicles abreast. The defendant’s car then came towards them at speed and although they thought the car would stop, it had instead accelerated towards them and tried to pass their patrol car by going up onto a bank but it struck their vehicle, damaging it. Sergeant Moroney said that the gardai had the blue light flashing at the time.

They demanded production of the driver’s insurance and driving licence but they had not been produced.

Defending solicitor Maurice Regan told Judge Cephas Power that his client had compensation in court to pay for the damage to the Garda car. He said he had had sight of a document which showed that the defendant had been involved in family law matters. He was working full-time and supported his child and partner. The solicitor also said that his client was trying to deal with addiction issues.

Sergeant Moroney listed the defendant’s previous convictions including driving without insurance (2019, 240 hours community service in lieu of five months imprisonment, with other charges taken into account); dangerous driving by two (2019, five months imprisonment, disqualified for 10 years); no insurance by two (2019, five months imprisonment, disqualified for 10 years); Driving without insurance, gave false name and address (2020, disqualified for three years).

Judge Power said that defendant had put the gardai and the general public at considerable risk. He ordered up a probation report and put the case back to 5th April next.

Separately, a 51-year-old Lithuanian man has been sent forward for trial on a charge of alleged theft from a Navan motor company.

Antanas Brencius of no fixed address appeared at Trim District Court charged with stealing €3,753 from the J&S Repairs at the AIB bank at Market Square, Navan on 27th November 2020. Garda Kathryn Christie gave evidence of having served a book of evidence on the accused.

Judge Cephas Power sent the accused forward for trial at Trim Circuit Court on the 18th of February next. The accused was remanded on continuing bail until the date of his trial.