TD’s son tasered after arrest resistance

The son of a Fianna Fáil TD had to be subdued by gardaí with a shot from a taser gun when he violently resisted arrest after driving at speed through a pedestrian crossing that was in use at the time.

Peter Fleming, the son of Laois Offaly TD Sean Fleming, was jailed for 22 months and banned from driving for four years.

Judge Eugene O’Kelly yesterday said it was “one of the very worst of dangerous driving cases” to ever come before Limerick District Court.

Fleming, aged 22, pleading guilty to four counts of dangerous-driving; drink-driving; two counts of hit and run; stealing a car; driving without insurance; and driving without a driver’s licence.

Fleming stole a car on Jan 23 this year in Tullamore. Three days later he was involved in a high-speed chase with gardaí across parts of Limerick City after he failed to stop for a mobile Garda patrol unit.

The chase began on the Old Dooradoyle Rd near the Crescent Shopping Centre, where Fleming collided with another car.

He then drove through the islands of two roundabouts before crashing into an embankment.

“Gardaí observed Mr Fleming’s vehicle driving erratically behind another vehicle. He overtook the other vehicle at speed and against oncoming traffic,” Sgt Donal Cronin told the court.

Fleming failed to stop for gardaí who had switched on their patrol car’s flashing lights and enabled their sirens. A high-speed chase ensued when Fleming failed to stop. He overtook a second vehicle and drove at speed through residential parts of the city.

When he entered a cul-de-sac, Fleming reversed at speed at the pursuing patrol car, narrowly missing the gardaí.

“He drove straight through a pedestrian crossing and people were utilising the pedestrian crossing at the time. He drove across three lanes of traffic and over an island at a roundabout,” said Sgt Cronin.

After crashing the stolen car, Fleming ran but was apprehended by Det Gda Paul Crowley and Garda Deirdre Foley.

Fleming was “highly intoxicated”, the court heard.

Fleming’s solicitor said the accused was “very sorry” and “has acknowledged he did very wrong and is holding up his hands”.

She said Fleming’s life had been “marred by addictions”.

The court was told Fleming would seek rehabilitation and education services in prison.

Sean Fleming has previously apologised on behalf of the Fleming family for his son’s behaviour.