A reckless driver from Inishowen who engaged gardaí in a high-speed pursuit has been handed a twelve-month prison sentence and a four-year driving ban.
Gavin Kelly, aged 23 and with an address at Garvery, Burnfoot, was sentenced at Glenties District Court.
Kelly, who was said to have returned from Australia to meet his fate, was handed a prison sentence and put off the road by Judge Ciaran Liddy.
The charges related to what Judge Liddy described as a “horrendous” incident on May 22, 2021 where gardai pursued him between areas of Burnfoot and Muff.
Kelly was charged with dangerous driving in the townlands of Carnshannagh, Monreagh and Garvery in Burnfoot and Iskaheen, Muff.
He was also charged with not having a certificate of roadworthiness on the vehicle and with not producing a certificate of road worthiness.
At Buncrana District Court on Tuesday, the court heard that Kelly had come back from Australia to meet the case. The court was informed that Kelly was picked up by gardaí on foot of an arrest warrant and brought to court.
He was granted bail by Judge Éiteáin Cunningham to appear again before Glenties District Court on Wednesday.
Solicitor Mr Frank Murphy told Judge Liddy that Kelly was tendering a guilty plea in respect of the charges. Mr Murphy said his client never had any previous for this type of behaviour.
Judge Liddy said the case involved “a horrendous incident of dangerous driving” through a large number of townlands.
Kelly failed to stop despite the numerous attempts of Garda Michael Rafferty to halt the “reckless driving”.
Judge Liddy said the sentence had to reflect the seriousness of the driving. On two of the dangerous driving charges, Judge Liddy sentenced Kelly to six months in prison. The sentences are to run consecutively, giving Kelly a total sentence of one year in prison.
He was also disqualified from driving for four years – two years each on two of the charges.
Recognisance in the event of an appeal was set at €500, with €500 to be lodged in court.
Other charges were marked as taken into consideration.