An unemployed man involved in a high-speed Garda chase, driving a new car he bought for €30,500, engaged in behaviour akin to Russian roulette, a court heard.

A judge ‘noted with interest’ that a man got free legal aid without question for being involved in a high-speed drunken road chase — in a car he bought for €30,500 from a main dealer, of which €26,300 was paid in cash along with a trade-in car.