Garda impersonator 'fitted siren and lights to car'

A man with an “unhealthy fascination” with police equipment was caught speeding an imitation garda car around the city centre while drunk, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has heard.

Ciaran Farrelly of Maplewood Drive, Tallaght, was rejected when he tried to join the gardaí at 19 and developed an interest in garda equipment, buying several patrol cars at police auctions over the years. He has four previous convictions including one for possession of nearly 400 ecstasy tablets.