Jail for driver who reversed at speed towards garda

A man who was twice hospitalised following serious collisions has been jailed for four years by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Thomas Mc Guinness (aged 25) of Harelawn Drive, Clondalkin was thrown out the back window of the car in the first collision on May 25, 2004 but despite being hospitalised for several weeks was involved in a similar accident on January 9, 2005.

McGuinness pleaded guilty to dangerous driving; reversing at speed towards a garda; two charges of unlawfully taking a car; having no insurance and criminal damage to a state vehicle on dates between December 2003 and January 2005. He had 74 previous convictions.

Judge Desmond Hogan said that McGuinness’ "lack of honesty" compounded by his "blatant disregard for the members of the public" left him with no option other than to impose a custodial sentence.

Garda Dominic Dowling told prosecuting counsel, Mr Garnet Orange BL, that on the first occasion, Mc Guinness drove "against the traffic" near the Lucan bypass, before the car was "flipped a number of times".

Garda Dowling agreed with Mr Shane Costelloe BL, defending, that McGuinness had been "thrown out the back window of the car" from the force of the impact, leaving him with severe head trauma.

Garda Turlough McMahon told Mr Orange that he pursued McGuinness through the Templeogue area during which witness’ partner was almost struck by the defendant as he reversed out of a cul de sac.

Garda McMahon said McGuinness had gone on to "demolish" a pay-and-display meter, then "narrowly missed" a cyclist before finally ploughing into a wall. The car was so embedded in the wall that the Dublin Fire Brigade had to be called to cut McGuinness from the wreckage.

Mr Costelloe submitted that due to his client’s 74 previous convictions, imposing a further custodial sentence on him would only perpetuate his cycle of re-offending.

Mr Costelloe pointed to efforts made by McGuinness’ in enrolling in a Horticulture Studies programme, while also addressing his drug dependency through a methadone programme. If given this opportunity he would "grasp it with both hands".

Judge Hogan said that McGuinness had been given "more than one chance on more than one occasion" and suspended the final two years of the sentence on condition that he keep the peace for five years on release from prison.