Youth ‘swerved towards Garda car’

A 17-year-old male driver tried to ram two garda cars during a 40-minute morning car chase across south Clare and Limerick City, the Children’s Court has heard.

At the Children’s Court in Ennis yesterday, the Limerick youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared in connection with 29 separate charges arising from what Det Sgt Kevin O’Hagan alleged was “a crime spree” on February 10 of this year.

In court, Det Sgt O’Hagan of Shannon Garda Station said that in two instances during the car chase, it will be alleged that the youth swerved at two Garda patrol cars which had pulled up alongside the 15 L Renault Clio the youth was driving.

The youth is charged with swerving the car and trying to ram the Garda car which created a substantial risk of death or serious harm to another at Ballymachill, Ennis, and 40km away in the chase at Coonagh outside Limerick City, contrary to Section 13 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.

Outlining the Ballymacahill swerving incident, Det Sgt O’Hagan alleged: “Gardaí came up alongside the vehicle and the driver swerved towards the Garda car forcing the Garda car to pull back.”

Det Sgt O’Hagan said the incident at Coonagh was more serious as there were more drivers on the road as this was later in the morning and 30 minutes into the chase.

Up to five Garda cars were involved at various stages of the pursuit and Det Sgt O’Hagan said the youth’s car was eventually stopped when a number of Garda cars were placed across the road at Parteen Bridge outside Limerick. Det Sgt O’Hagan said it will be alleged that the car the youth was driving was earlier stolen from Lansdowne Park in Limerick.

Det Sgt O’Hagan said the incident had started at 6am that day when gardaí were called to Kilnasoolagh Park in Newmarket on Fergus, 24km from Limerick.

He said when gardaí tried to stop the Renault Clio at Kilansoolagh by placing a car across the road, the youth’s car went around the Garda car by mounting the footpath and headed for the nearby motorway.

The youth drove north 16km towards Ennis exiting the motorway there and the first swerving incident took place at Ballymachill outside Ennis before the youth drove back onto the motorway and headed for Limerick.

The youth drove the 40km to Limerick and Det Sgt O’Hagan said he racked up several dangerous driving charges in the pursuit around Limerick.

The youth was further remanded on bail to reappear before the Children’s Court again in September when a book of evidence will be served to allow the case go forward to the circuit court.