Rampage by gang led to attack on gardaí

A late night escapade involving two men, a woman, and a teenage girl escalated into a fierce confrontation after they tried to raid the home of a detective superintendent, Limerick Circuit Court heard yesterday.

Lisa O’Callaghan, aged 21, Keane St, Killalee; Jason Curtin, aged 20, of Spitland, Old Cork Rd; Owen Bailey, aged 19 of Rossa Avenue, Mulgrave St; and a 16-year-old girl all pleaded guilty to charges arising from a violent rampage in which they crashed stolen cars, broke into houses, violently assaulted and seriously injured gardaí, and stole a range of property and wine.

After nearly eight hours, the chase came to an end following a chase along a disused railway line in Patrickswell when pepper spray had to be used to subdue Bailey and Curtin.

The court heard that Det Supt Jim Browne and his daughter, Garda Niamh Browne, were viciously assaulted after they tried to tackle the gang, with Supt Browne sustaining a broken hand.

The four later stole two Mercedes parked at another house nearby and crashed both vehicles.

Det Garda Michael Reidy, Bruff, said the events of the night of Feb 4 began at Killalee in Limerick City at around 12am when the four sped off in a car owned by O’Callaghan’s father, without his permission.

They drove into Co Limerick and entered the home of Ann Mulcahy at Meanus, stealing a quantity of wine. They left after rummaging through part of the house. The owner did not discover the entry until the next morning.

At 4.30am, Garda Browne was off duty at home watching TV. On seeing a man outside, she alerted her father, Det Supt Jim Browne, who was asleep upstairs.

They gave chase in Garda Browne’s private car.

After a pursuit of about 6.5km, the car carrying the gang crashed.

Having identified themselves, Det Supt Browne and Garda Browne confronted the gang, and a violent struggle ensued.

Garda Browne was hit in the face and head repeatedly and Det Supt Browne was knocked to the ground after one of the gang jumped on his back.

They feared for their safety during the struggle.

The teenage girl tried to hit Det Supt Browne with a wine bottle, but he warded off the blow with his arm.

After escaping, the gang arrived at the home of Shane Skerritt and his wife at The Paddocks, Bruree, at 6.15am. They found keys of the two Mercedes owned by the Skerritts and drove off in them. Both cars were found crashed on nearby roads.

At around 7.30am, gardaí were alerted to a break-in at an engineering company at the old railway station in Patrickswell. Bailey was seen leaving the premises.

Bailey, who has 54 convictions, and Curtin, who has 85 convictions, were jailed for three years and disqualified from driving for five years. Judge Carroll Moran adjourned sentencing on O’Callaghan and the 16-year-old.