Drunken teen on joyride hit garda car

Tom Tuite

A TEENAGER who drank 10 bottles of beer, stole his brother's car and then rammed a garda vehicle during a high-speed chase, has escaped a custodial sentence.

The 17-year-old boy pleaded guilty at the Children's Court to stealing the car, endangerment of life, drink driving and eight counts of dangerous driving in Clondalkin, in Dublin, on March 17 last year.

Garda Deirdre Cotter told Judge Clare Leonard that the car had been spotted "driving in an erratic and dangerous manner".

The teen drove "on both sides of the road," reached speeds of 80kph in built-up residential areas with a 40kph limit. After the teenager failed to stop, a pursuit took place and the defendant "drove intentionally into the rear of an official patrol car" at the Nangor Road.

The teen, a first time offender, admitted in court that he drank "10 bottles of beer" before he took his brother's car out for a drive.

Judge Leonard banned the boy from driving for two years and placed him on supervised probation for 12 months. He was also ordered to pay €634 to cover the damages he caused to the garda car.

hnews@herald.ie