An Inishowen man has been banned from driving for two years after leading gardaí on a 160kph high-speed chase.
Jonathan Doherty, of Mamore Cottage, Claggin, Clonmany, continued to drive recklessly and fled across the border on four burst tyres after the guards had deployed a stinger device in a bid to slow him down.
The 23-year-old apprentice welder, who pleaded guilty to a charge of dangerous driving at Buncrana District Court, was eventually picked up by the PSNI in the North.
Defence solicitor Frank Dorrian said Mr Doherty had “panicked” and “made a bad situation worse” when he saw the Garda patrol car behind him, before taking off at speed from Quigley’s Point towards Muff.
Sergeant Emmet Brady presented the facts of the case in court, outlining how the incident happened on Main Street, Muff just before midnight on October 19, 2024.
“Sergeant Michael Devlin was on mobile patrol in the village at 11.55pm. He was aware that the Carndonagh patrol car had met a vehicle travelling at excessive speeds from Quigley’s Point in the direction of Muff,” Sgt Brady said in evidence. “The Carndonagh Garda car had been unable to catch up with the vehicle despite travelling at speeds of more than 100 miles per hour behind it.”
He said Sergeant Devlin deployed the ‘stinger’ stopping device when the vehicle reached his position in Muff, bursting all of the car’s tyres.
However, Mr Doherty continued to drive on in an attempt to escape.
“The vehicle managed to travel over the border with its four tyres deflated,” Sgt Brady said.
The court heard how the PSNI subsequently contacted Buncrana Garda Station and how they had identified the driver of the vehicle as Jonathan Doherty.
Mr Doherty then met Sergeant Devlin by arrangement two days later, on October 21, and identified himself as the driver following a legal requirement under Section 1.7.
“After caution, he stated that he had panicked. No other excuse was given,” Sgt Brady said in conclusion to his evidence, while also revealing how the defendant had no previous convictions.
Solicitor Frank Dorrian told Judge Eiteain Cunningham that his client was in court with his mother and that he panicked on the night in question.
He said Mr Doherty was not under the influence of any alcohol or substances when he took off at speed.
“He crossed the border and was in contact with the PSNI in the North and there’s no suggestion that he had been drinking or was intoxicated to any level,” the solicitor said.
“He realised when he met the Garda car coming towards him that he was travelling too fast and when the guards came after him he unfortunately resorted to trying to get to the border.”
“The guard had rung ahead and notified his colleague to stop the vehicle.”
Mr Dorrian said “thereafter, good sense did prevail” and Mr Doherty took full responsibility for his actions.
“His parents took a very appropriate view in relation to the matter and he went along to the Garda Station by appointment. He acknowledged completely his wrongdoing and he apologised for it. He is contrite.”
The Buncrana solicitor said his client had made a bad situation worse by fleeing.
“He thought he was in trouble for the speed he was doing, and he was right. At that point in time it might have been salvageable to some level but he ended up making a bad situation worse.”
“Very often in that scenario, one bad decision borrows another and the situation can spiral into an unmanageable state of panic – and that’s what happened to this young man.”
Mr Dorrian said Mr Doherty has a clean record and works with a local engineering firm as an apprentice welder and fabricator.
“He has an admiration for and interest in vehicles too, but that is something that’ll have to be put on hold at the very least,” the defence solicitor conceded.
Judge Cunningham convicted Mr Doherty of the Section 53 charge of dangerous driving, imposing a mandatory disqualification of two years. She also issued a fine of €200, allowing the defendant six months to pay.