Man jailed for crashing stolen jeep into Garda car

A 21-year-old man who stole a Honda jeep and crashed it into an oncoming Garda car has been jailed for three years by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Noel Deans, a father-of-one from Greenwood Lawns, Coolock pleaded guilty to stealing the jeep on Main Street, Malahide on February 4, 2003 after he saw that the keys had been left inside while the owner went to the post office.

Garda John Byrne told prosecuting counsel Mr Paul Greene BL that the vehicle was driven at high speed and was on the wrong side of the road when it collided with the Garda car.

Nobody was seriously injured but Deans was taken from the vehicle with blood dripping down his face.

Gardaí formed the opinion that he had been drinking but he refused to give any samples.

There was a strong smell of alcohol on his breath and his speech was slurred.

Garda Byrne said Deans was taken to Beaumont Hospital for treatment for his injuries where he attempted to escape from custody.

Ms Caroline Biggs BL, defending, told Judge Desmond Hogan that her client has only spent a year and a half out of custody since he was first convicted of a criminal offence at the age of 14.

Ms Biggs said Deans, who has 18 previous convictions, has a history of drug addiction and psychiatric problems.

Judge Hogan said the crime could initially be described as opportunistic but he said he drove dangerously on the wrong side of the road.

He sentenced him to three years for unlawfully taking a vehicle. He suspended the final year for a period of four years on condition that Deans entered into a bond to keep the peace.

He was also disqualified from driving for two years for driving whilst intoxicated and told him to pay a fine of €100 in lieu of a seven-day sentence.

Two other charges of threatening to injure a garda and an account of assaulting a garda by attempting to head butt him en route to Swords Garda Station were taken into account.