A Donegal man has been sentenced to four months in prison and banned from driving for ten years after what a Judge called ‘one of the most outrageous chases’.
Danny McBride, from Carrigart, appeared at Letterkenny District Court charged with 18 counts of dangerous driving following a 22km chase between Kilmacrennan and Carrigart.
A Volkswagen Caddy driven by McBride sped through Kilmacrennan at a speed in excess of 90km/h and led Gardaí on a pursuit, during which the defendant went through junctions without stopping and with the lights switched off.
“This case caused me a lot of difficulty,” Judge Paul Kelly said.
“This was one of the most outrageous chases, for 22km on a series of roads, main and back, and through villages.
“It was marked by a number of occasions where he narrowly avoided colliding with oncoming vehicles.
“At one stage sparks were flying and debris from the vehicle hit the patrol car. He drove through stop signs at speed, turned off the lights and went through a junction.”
Judge Kelly considered a probation report and a number of references that were submitted.
Judge Kelly said: “Given the nature of the chase, I cannot deal with it in another way but a custodial sentence.”
On a dangerous driving charge at Kilmacrennan, McBride was sentenced to four months in prison and disqualified from driving for two years.
For a dangerous driving charge at Kilconnell, Kilmacrennan, McBride was sentenced to four months in prison, to be served concurrent, and was disqualified from driving for four years.
Judge Kelly handed down a six-month suspended sentence, subject to conditions, for a dangerous driving charge at Casheleenan, Kilmacrennan. The sentence was suspended for two years.
McBride was also given a six-month suspended sentence and disqualified from driving for four yeas for a dangerous driving charge at Letterfad, Kilmacrennan.
Judge Kelly, in light of McBride’s plea, took the remaining charges into consideration.
Recognisance in the event of an appeal was set at McBride’s own bond of €750.