Cork gardaí had to use two stinger devices to stop fleeing motorist, court told

James Brennan had over €5,000 worth of cannabis in his car at the time

Gardaí chased the driver during 10 minutes of dangerous driving that saw him go from Glasheen to Ballincollig and back towards Togher, including going through red traffic lights at Togher Road/Clashduv Road junction on the incorrect side of the road.

A motorist driving erratically refused to stop for gardaí and took off at speed going through red lights until he was stopped with the use of stinger devices after a 10-minute escapade of dangerous driving with over €5,000 worth of cannabis in his car.

James Brennan of Lisadell estate, Maryborough Hill, Douglas, Cork, had sentencing in his case finalised on Friday at Cork District Court for a combination of charges that included having drugs for sale or supply and counts of dangerous driving.

At the height of the driving rampage two stingers had to be deployed by gardaí to puncture and disable the car being driven by him.

For having cannabis for sale or supply, the 33-year-old was given a four-month suspended sentence. This followed defence submissions from solicitor Frank Buttimer that Mr Brennan had completely turned his life around since this incident almost two years ago when he panicked and fled from gardaí. 

Judge Mary Dorgan was told that the accused is now working full-time and his life has stabilised. The judge also fined him €900 for having the cannabis for his own use.

In respect of the dangerous driving and related offences the judge imposed a series of penalties, including a four-year driving ban, further fines, suspended sentences and a 200-hour community service order.

“You seem to be on the right track. That is what we are very pleased to hear,” Judge Dorgan said on Friday.

Incident

The incident occurred shortly before 2am on August 2, 2022, when Garda Ryan Dillon observed a car being driven in an erratic manner on Wilton Road.

Blue lights and siren were activated. The car failed to stop during 10 minutes of dangerous driving that saw him go from Glasheen to Ballincollig and back towards Togher, including going through red traffic lights at Togher Road/Clashduv Road junction on the incorrect side of the road.

The 33-year-old was arrested and it was accepted that in fairness to the man who panicked when he saw the gardaí, he co-operated from the moment of his arrest. Defence solicitor, Frank Buttimer, said the 33-year-old admitted having the cannabis for sale or supply.

“He acknowledges the pursuit — he knew he had the material in his possession and it was fear of apprehension. But on being apprehended he was amenable to gardaí. He was forthcoming.

Mr Buttimer said

It was something of a watershed moment. It was a group activity where the cannabis was shared with friends rather than being a commercial activity.

Judge Mary Dorgan said: “It is one of the better probation reports I have ever read but I am very concerned about the value of the drugs.

“And in the driving, we had two stingers here. So that was a factor that has to be taken into consideration and he drove the wrong way around a roundabout to avoid a stinger. It was extraordinarily bad.” 

Mr Buttimer said: “He has cleared up his drug situation and he is working full-time now. I would ask you to take the view that there is a nexus between his driving and his drug concerns at the time. He has not come to attention since this happened two years ago. He has completely stabilised his life.

“I could not see him avoiding a prison term were it not for all of the positive things he has done in the meantime.”