'Catch me if you can': Cork man taunted gardaí as he fled drink‑drive stop 

Accused repeatedly rang the Garda station after the incident, abusing staff as he inquired about his keys

The court heard that the accused 'seemed to have turned a corner'. File picture: Dan Linehan

A Cork man stopped on suspicion of drink driving taunted gardaí, shouting “catch me if you can” before fleeing the scene. He then repeatedly rang the Garda station overnight, abusing staff after calling about his car keys.

Sergeant Tom Mulcahy told Bantry District Court that gardaí observed a vehicle driving erratically, swerving back and forth on the road, travelling from Bantry towards Ballylickey at 9.20pm on April 12, 2025.

The court heard the vehicle attempted to overtake a truck and had to swerve back in to avoid oncoming traffic. It then turned right at Donamark, Bantry.

The Garda patrol car activated its blue lights, but the vehicle failed to stop for another 300m.

The car then pulled into a private property, and the driver, identified as Darragh McCarthy, aged 31, of Slip Heights, Bantry, got out of the vehicle. 

When gardaí spoke to McCarthy, he was unsteady on his feet, his eyes were glassy, and it was clear he was under the influence of an intoxicant, the court heard.

When McCarthy was asked to take an oral fluid test, he inquired whether he would be arrested if he failed the test.

When informed he would be arrested and required to attend Bantry Garda Station for a further sample, McCarthy ran from gardaí, shouting: “Catch me if you can.” 

Gardaí were unable to locate him. The vehicle was secured and the keys brought to Bantry Garda Station. 

The court heard that throughout the night, McCarthy rang the station and abused the members who answered the phone. 

McCarthy said he had called the Garda station to inquire about his car keys as the window of the car had been left open.

The court was told that McCarthy had eight previous convictions, including two for public intoxication and one for failing to comply with Garda directions.

Flor Murphy, defending, said McCarthy was pleading guilty to careless driving and driving while intoxicated. The State withdrew a third charge of refusing to give a sample.

Mr Murphy said his client had “got into lots of difficulties as a young man” but “seemed to have turned a corner”. 

He said that McCarthy was the primary carer for his daughter and knows “this behaviour was unacceptable on the night” and “can make no excuses” for the way he behaved.

Judge Joanne Carroll said it was “very poor behaviour” on McCarthy’s part. She said that not only was he driving while intoxicated, he also fled from gardaí and then rang the Garda station later.

McCarthy was convicted of driving while intoxicated and disqualified from driving for four years. He was also sentenced to three months in prison, suspended for 12 months. 

The commencement of the disqualification was postponed to October 1 to allow McCarthy time to make arrangements for his daughter to get to school.

For careless driving, he was also convicted and fined €150 and given three months to pay the fine.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme