UNDER the influence of drugs and speeding through “major city thoroughfares and intersections” only eventually coming to a stop after smashing into a garda car ,was how the case of a 31-year-old man charged with various road traffic offences was described at Limerick District Court last week. Patrick Byrnes of Knockalough, Kilmihil was charged with five counts of dangerous driving, two counts of criminal damage, driving while under the influence of an intoxicant, failing to stop and driving with no insurance on May 18, 2010.
The court heard that gardai were in pursuit of a driver who was city bound from the Ennis Road after he broke a red light and was observed driving in an erratic fashion at Ivan’s Cross.
Turning left and driving towards Hassett’s Cross, the motorist was chased by gardai as he continued through the main intersection and on to Sexton Street North before eventually smashing into a second patrol car. Byrnes, the court was told, attempted to reverse away from the scene but crashed into the garda patrol car behind him and eventually was apprehended.
The accused man was arrested and charged with the various breaches of the road traffic legislation.
Byrnes, with 117 previous convictions and currently serving a five year sentence that was imposed at Ennis Circuit Court since his Limerick incident, was told by Judge O’Donnell that it was an “outrageous performance” which took place at 8.10pm on the night in question at “some of the busiest places in the city, day or night”.
The district court judge added that the accused noted “the amount of life and liberty that he put in danger as he drove through almost every intersection on the way into the city”. The court heard that nobody was injured and that €200 worth of damage was caused to each garda patrol car.
Ted McCarthy, solicitor for Byrnes, told the court that the defendant’s driving was “chaotic” on the night in question.
He added that the owner of the car was in the back seat and the men had been drinking and were driving from Clare to Limerick when the incident occurred.
Mr McCarthy said that his client apologised and “regrets” the matter and that he had had “his difficulties with drink in the past”, but after a young age, “that unfortunately turned to drugs”.
Judge O’Donnell took into account the early plea and the lengthy sentence that Patrick Byrnes is currently serving and imposed a total of 18 months for the various breaches of the road traffic legislation. The sentences are to run concurrent to the five year sentence handed down at Ennis Circuit Court.
