Two men led Gardai on a 20km chase across Donegal before doing a U-turn and ramming their patrol car head-on.
The two men, Ciaran Kelly and Brian Corrigan, were spotted by Gardai driving a stolen car outside Supermacs in Donegal Town on Sunday, September 16th.
The men took off at speed in their Nissan Almera car and were followed by Gardai.
During the pursuit, the driver of the car Brian Corrigan undertook the Garda patrol car twice and then drove on the wrong side of the road forcing oncoming cars to take evasive action.
Another Garda car joined the chase and at one stage at Ballyshannon, there was a Garda car in front and behind of the stolen car.
During this pursuit, the driver performed a U-turn and then rammed a parked patrol car causing it significant damage.
There were no injuries to Gardai during the incident.
At 9.15pm Gardai managed to bring the car to a halt and arrested both men in Ballyshannon.
Both were unsteady on their feet, were slurring their words and smelled of alcohol.
Neither men replied when they were later charged at Ballyshannon Garda station.
Letterkenny District Court heard how the car had been stolen in Enniskillen in Co Fermanagh.
Gardai said they believed the men were trying to head to the border but took a wrong turn and ended up in Ballyshannon.
Corrigan, aged 34, from Drumbrochas, Macken, Enniskillen, is charged with dangerous driving, drink-driving, damaging a Garda patrol car and handling stolen property.
Kelly, aged 31, from Ferney Rise in Enniskillen, is charged with being intoxicated in a public place and taking possession of a vehicle without the owner’s consent.
Both men, who work as plasters in Enniskillen, have pleaded guilty to all the charges.
Judge Paul Kelly remanded both men in custody and adjourned the case until tomorrow (Tues) at Carrick-on-Shannon District Court.