Banned driver led gardai on 50km high-speed chase

Sean Carroll (24) claimed he did not want to stop for gardai as he was disqualified from driving at the time.

He has now been disqualified further for 10 years and ordered to complete community service work in lieu of five months in prison for dangerous driving.

Drogheda District Court heard Carroll was driving a Ford Mondeo at Mell, Drogheda, Co Louth, at around 9.30pm.

Gardai spotted him driving the car and were aware he had a history of driving offences.

Officers activated the blue lights and siren on the patrol car at the junction of Trinity Street and Ashfield Green.

Carroll failed to stop and continued to drive at speed for 50km in a dangerous manner, the court heard.

"He drove for 50km and then collided with a ditch and couldn't drive any further," said Garda Sergeant Ray Brady.

When gardai approached the car, the defendant admitted he was a disqualified driver.

Sanction

Carroll, formerly of Drogheda and now of Rhue, Tubbercurry, Co Sligo, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, contrary to Section 53 of the Road Traffic Act, on October 21, 2018.

He further pleaded guilty to driving without insurance on the same date.

His defence barrister told the court why the 24-year-old failed to stop for gardai. "The reason he didn't stop was because he was disqualified from driving at the time," said Ronan O'Carroll.

At a previous court hearing, the defendant's partner had asked the judge to ban him from Co Louth.

"His partner is asking the court that whatever sanction he gets she is asking to have him banned from Co Louth as it's a bad place for him," said Mr O'Carroll.

After a positive probation report was handed into court recommending the defendant is suitable to undertake community service work, Judge Eirinn McKiernan ordered the defendant complete 240 hours of work in the community in lieu of five months in prison.

She also banned him from driving for 10 years.