Drunk driver jailed for six months after garda chase

A drunk driver sped away from gardaí narrowly missing crashes with two other cars and later jumped into the back of his car on top of his three passengers in the hope that his driving would not be detected.

However, it did not work out to this plan for motorist Shane Green as he was jailed yesterday for six months and banned from driving for eight years.

Inspector Bill Duane said at Cork District Court yesterday that gardaí observed an Audi A4 being driven by Green at Blarney St, Cork, after midnight on November 20 last. There was a front seat passenger and three passengers in the back at the time.

“On seeing gardaí he took off at speed and drove dangerously on Sunday’s Well Road and Shanakiel Road, forcing two other cars to take evasive action.

“He drove on to Convent Avenue and stopped. He jumped into the back seat on top of his three passengers,” Insp Duane said.

Gardaí had previously seen that the driver was Green, aged 26, of 8 Churchfield Green, Churchfield, Cork. There was a strong smell of intoxicating liquor from his breath and he was arrested for drink driving. A small quantity of cocaine was found during a search of the car.

Green who had numerous previous convictions for driving without insurance as well as counts for drink driving, pleaded guilty to several charges including driving while uninsured, dangerous driving, drink driving and having the cocaine for his own use.

There was no excuse offered by Donal Daly, solicitor, at Cork District Court on behalf of Green and it was accepted that he had a bad criminal record.

“He accepts he acted in a reckless manner trying to get away from the guards. He accepts he has a very serious difficulty in fairness to him,” Mr Daly said.

Noting the defendant had been disqualified from driving previously, Judge Olann Kelleher said: “This man has no respect for the law. He has a terrible record for driving with no insurance.”