Motorist gets two-year driving ban for evading gardaí in high-speed chase through West Cork

The court heard that when gardaí approached the vehicle, which had a driver and at least one passenger, it 'took off at speed' and the garda car had to take evasive action to avoid a collision. File picture: Denis Minihane

A motorist was charged with 10 counts of dangerous driving following a high-speed chase in West Cork, a recent sitting of Bantry District Court was told.

Court presenter Sergeant Trish O’Sullivan told the court that on the night of August 16, 2025, gardaí observed a black Toyota Auris parked “unusually” at Brahalish on the west side of Durrus village near Bantry.

When they approached the vehicle, which had a driver and at least one passenger, it “took off at speed” and the garda car had to take evasive action to avoid a collision. Gardaí followed the car as it headed east towards Durrus village on the Ahakista road. The car was observed driving too fast for the road and also crossing the central white line.

The car then drove through Durrus village “too fast” where a number of pedestrians were present and over a traffic calming speed ramp at a speed described as “noticeably too high”. The Toyota then drove on into the countryside along a minor road and did not stop for gardaí who had their blue lights flashing in pursuit.

The car then crossed a junction at Letterlicky without stopping and gardaí who had the details of the car decided to abandon the pursuit. The court heard that the pursuit lasted a distance of approximately five miles or eight kilometres before the garda car stopped following the Toyota. 

The driver was identified as Edward Ryan, aged 24, of Chapel Rock, Durrus, Co Cork, who had no previous convictions. Defence solicitor Flor Murphy said the car suffered a puncture on the night and Mr Ryan walked home where his father informed him the gardaí were looking for him. 

Mr Murphy said Ryan went to gardaí and made full admissions. He said when his client saw the garda car approaching “a light went on and he just took off”. Mr Murphy said Ryan’s documents were all in order and the car was a 1.4 that was not souped-up in any way. 

He said Ryan had been fishing with a friend that day and had “gone for a spin as young people do”. He said Ryan suffered from anxiety and depression for which he was on medication. He added that Ryan had a good work ethic and worked in traffic management for road construction projects.

Judge Joanne Carroll said people with depression should respect their driving licence “just like everybody else”. She said she would take into consideration the fact that Ryan had no previous convictions but said “all citizens have to co-operate with the gardaí”. 

She said Ryan had “soaked up garda time by going on a wild chase through West Cork”. By agreement Ryan was prosecuted on four of the 10 charges that all related to different locations during the same incident. 

For dangerous driving at Clashadoo, Durrus, he was convicted, disqualified from driving for two years and fined €500 with five months to pay. For dangerous driving at Letterlicky East, Bantry, he was convicted and disqualified from driving for two years and fined €500 with five months to pay. Both the disqualifications are to run concurrently.

The judge adjourned a further two charges to March 26, 2026, to allow time for the preparation of a probation report. The other six charges were struck out and Judge Carroll agreed to defer the commencement of the driving disqualification to January 15, 2026.

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