Speedster boasted that gardaí couldn’t catch him

A man who reached speeds of up to 179km/h and boasted to Garda that they could not catch him has been jailed for 20 months and banned from driving for 10 years.

Shane Gibson appeared before Letterkenny District Court, Co Donegal, charged with more than 30 offences over a two-year period.

When arrested by gardaí in September, there were more than 20 bench warrants out for Gibson’s arrest.

Gibson, aged 29, of Carra Bay, Culdaff, faced charges including dangerous driving, no insurance, no tax, no driving license and no NCT certificate.

The court heard how Gibson had tried to escape from gardaí during several pursuits on different dates.

Garda Marcus O’Dowd gave evidence of one pursuit in which Gibson was spotted driving dangerously on six occasions during a pursuit from Letterkenny and into Derry on September 15.

Garda O’Dowd said that when Gibson was arrested a week later, he bragged about how he was able to get away from gardaí.

Gibson’s solicitor, Donagh Cleary, told the court that the death of a baby two years ago had been a catalyst for his client’s behaviour. He said Gibson admitted having a problem with alcohol and his behaviour was almost designed to get himself caught.

Judge Paul Kelly sentenced Gibson to a total of 20 months, backdated to September 26.

He also banned him from driving for 10 years.