Teenager who caused five accidents gets three years

A teenager whose dangerous driving resulted in five car accidents, one involving the Garda patrol car that was chasing him, has been given three years' detention at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Sergeant Walter Sweeney told Judge Patrick McCartan that nine people, including two children, were brought to hospitals with minor injuries after some of the victims had to be cut from their damaged cars. The road, which was close to Dublin Airport, also had to be closed off to allow access for the emergency services.

The 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a stolen Opel Zafira and three charges of dangerous driving on St Margaret’s Road, Finglas on February 12, 2007.

The teenager caused the first accident after he overtook a line of traffic and collided with a Ford Fiesta that was turning right out of a nearby junction.

The Zafira spun out of control and collided with a second vehicle while the garda patrol car that was pursuing it also hit the Ford Fiesta and spun out of control.

The gardaí managed to regain control of their vehicle but it hit a third car before they saw the Zafira take off up the road.

The Zafira then crashed into a fourth vehicle that was on a roundabout on the St Margaret’s Road causing it to spin until the vehicle was facing the opposite direction.

Sgt Sweeney told Ms Kathleen Noctor BL, prosecuting, that he arrived on the scene minutes later to find "carnage" on the road. He said two of the vehicles were written off because emergency crews had to cut off the roofs to get the passengers and drivers out. There was also "considerable damage" to the patrol car.

Judge McCartan said that Sgt Sweeney had painted a picture "of extreme reckless and dangerous driving" and added that "it was only by the grace of a higher authority that people were not killed".

He sentenced the teenager to three years detention but suspended the last two years having taken into account the "efforts he has made to mend his ways" and said he was "impressed by his progress".

Judge McCartan said the message had to go out to others who would consider getting involved in such behaviour before he added that there had to be "some element of punishment".

Sgt Sweeney said the gardaí saw the Zafira earlier that night driving at speed in a nearby car park. They approached the car and asked the accused to turn off the engine but he ignored their requests and reversed the car at speed out of the car park.

Gardaí signalled at him to stop but he refused to do so and drove up St Margaret's Road at 50-70 mph down the wrong side of the road, causing other motorists to take evasive action.

When gardaí noticed that the Fiesta was intending to come out of the junction, as the teenager was overtaking a line of traffic, they decided to follow at speed in an attempt to prevent an accident.

Sgt Sweeney said that after the Zafira’s third crash the driver fled the scene. They were later able to identify him through CCTV footage.

The teenager had five previous convictions for theft, burglary and public order offences.

Sgt Sweeney agreed with defence counsel Mr Niall Nolan BL that there has since been some turnaround in the teenager’s life. He is now the father of a two-month old baby, was back in education and a was member of his local boxing and soccer club.

Mr Nolan said that his client was ashamed of his behaviour and that he had €1,500 in court to offer as a token of his remorse.

He asked Judge McCartan to accept that a probation report had found that the accused was at a low risk of re-offending in the next 12 months.