'Serial road traffic offender' involved in high-speed garda chase loses €60k claim

O’Donnell, of St Philomena’s Park, Ballycoolin, Blanchardstown, said he had no memory of having threatened to hit Detective Garda Stewart Gleeson over the head with a full two-litre bottle of vodka, which he had in the car with him, before smashing it on the ground. Picture: iStock

A drunk man who could not remember his involvement in a garda high-speed chase the morning after his 40th birthday, has lost a €60,000 damages claim against the Motor Insurance Bureau and told to pay its costs.

Martin O’Donnell, who denied he had been involved in an all-night drinking celebration, told Judge John O’Connor in the Circuit Civil Court today that he did have drink taken when a friend and next-door neighbour offered him a lift at 10am on October 15, 2015. He turned 40 on the day before.