High speed chase ends in three years' jail

A father of one who rammed a garda vehicle off the road and attempted to drive straight into another during a high-speed chase in a stolen car has been sentenced to three years in prison by Judge Patricia Ryan.

Mark Morgan (aged 24) of Greencastle Road, Coolock pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the unlawful use of a stolen Honda Civic at Belcamp Crescent, Clonshaugh on October 5, 2007. He had been disqualified from driving at the time because of a previous offence.

Judge Ryan suspended the last 12 months of the sentence on strict conditions having taken into account efforts Morgan had made to rehabilitate and come off drugs since being remanded in custody. She ordered that he remain under the supervision of the probation service for 18 months upon his release.

Garda Gareth Ryan told prosecuting counsel, Ms Caroline Biggs BL, that several days previously, Mr James Gibson's white Honda Civic had been stolen. On October 5, Garda Claire Reilly was in a patrol unit and saw Morgan dangerously driving the same car around the Belcamp area.

She gave chase and as she came up beside Morgan he swerved his car into hers, hitting it on the side and forcing it across the road.

Gda Ryan said he arrived on the scene in his car and took up the chase. On Belcamp Crescent Morgan turned around and drove straight at Gda Ryan, forcing him to quickly get out of the way.

Another patrol car arrived on the scene but Morgan mounted the kerb and got past it before speeding off. Gardaí followed and saw him driving through residential estates at high speed and on the wrong side of the road.

Morgan forced the car through a gap in a hedge before he and his female passenger abandoned it and tried to run away.

Gda Ryan ran after them and caught and arrested Morgan. He was found to be drunk and without a driving license. He was remanded on bail until sentencing but failed to turn up in court and was re-arrested and detained.

Gda Ryan said he was an unemployed man with "little training" and an infant daughter. He agreed with defence counsel, Mr Luigi Rea BL, that Morgan had "an obsession with motor vehicles" and had a long list of related convictions.