Gardaí chased boxer for 4km

Gardaí arrested a rising sports star after chasing him for more than two hours on foot across the Tipperary/Offaly border and over a distance of 4km.

Yesterday, Michael Nevin, of Greenview, Portlaoise, was jailed for six months, backdated to August 7 with the final two months suspended, for committing a burglary at the home of a retired garda, while he was out on bail for separate offences.

The 2014 European junior boxing champion also received a four-year driving ban and a €1,250 fine for dangerous driving while being pursued by a Garda car.

Nevin, who had 31 previous convictions, was warned by presiding judge Elizabeth McGrath, that his boxing career would be finished if he continued down a criminal path.

Nevin, who the court heard is a 10-time All-Ireland boxing champion, pleaded guilty at Nenagh District Court, to possession of a screwdriver with the intention of using it in a burglary on May 1, 2015.

The 21-year old, who won the European Junior Boxing Championship in Russia last year, also pleaded guilty to two counts of dangerous driving on May 1, and with fraudulently using false registration plates on a car, on the same date.

He also admitted entering the home of retired Garda Martin Darcy, at St Conlon’s Road, Nenagh, as a trespasser with the intention of committing theft, on July 25.

Garda Paudie O’Leary, Nenagh, and Garda Anthony Kirby, Roscrea, chased Nevin for 4km on foot across the Tipperary/Offaly border, after they spotted him along with two other men acting suspiciously in a car last May, the court heard.

The chase began near Roscrea, Co Tipperary, at 4.15pm, and ended two hours and 41 minutes later in Co Offaly.

After gardaí subsequently lost track of Nevin, they received crucial intelligence from local sources which resulted in them arresting the champion boxer.

Leave to appeal was granted.