Man who was involved in three chases in a year given suspended sentence

A drug addict who was involved in three high-speed Garda chases in the space of a year, two while he was disqualified from driving, has been given a suspended sentence and ordered to perform community service.

Jason Boyne (aged 29) of St Mary’s Road, East Wall, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two charges of endangerment and two charges of unlawful possession of a vehicle on dates between April 16, 2004 and March 27, 2007.

Boyne had eight previous convictions and was on bail for the final two offences when he committed them.

Judge Katherine Delahunt noted that Boyne had sought to deal with his chronic drugs abuse and said while she felt a non-custodial sentence was appropriate Boyne should repay the community for the damage done.

She imposed consecutive sentences totalling four years which she suspended in full and ordered Boyne to perform 200 hours community service within 15 months.

Detective Garda Anthony Collins and Garda Adrian O’Sullivan and James Neary described Boyne ignoring signals to pull over while driving stolen cars at speeds up 110 kph through red lights, weaving in and out of traffic in heavy residential areas with narrow streets in the north inner city and at Millbrook Road, having come off the N32 near Coolock.

They told prosecuting counsel, Mr Paul Greene BL, how other motorists had to take desperate evasive action and stop to avoid collisions. Boyne crashed into a stationary taxi on one occasion, spinning it across two lanes of traffic, and smashed into a van on another occasion.

His reckless driving caused one vehicle to be written off with almost €13,000 worth of damage and a second vehicle written off at a cost of €2,000. Cars driven by Boyne had been stolen in the inner city area and in Smithfield and on all occasions he attempted to escape but was caught by pursuing gardaí.

Garda O’Sullivan agreed with defence counsel, Mr Sean Gillane BL, that Boyne had been a chronic drug user throughout his teens and twenties, having left school at an early age.

Garda O’Sullivan accepted that Boyne was now living with his mother who appeared to have a positive influence on him and he had started to deal with his drug addiction.

Mr Gillane said Boyne had begun abusing drugs at a young age but in the past few months had been making efforts to deal with his problem.