A LIMERICK man who led Gardaí on a high-speed chase in the city has been banned from driving for a total of 80 years.
Judge Patricia Harney described the driving of Thomas Manning (21) of Barrack Mews, Cathedral Place as “terrifying”, after hearing that, at one stage on August 23 last, he drove through Janesboro at 100 kilometres per hour.
Mr Manning had previously pleaded guilty to seven counts of dangerous driving and other offences before Limerick District Court, where he appeared on video for the sitting in Mulgrave Street.
Inspector Liam Wallace told the court that the accused had 49 previous convictions.
He was also before the court on charge of drug-driving on September 24, having tested positive when Gardaí saw him run a stop sign on John Street.
Mr Manning’s solicitor John Herbert told the court that his client “hadn’t the best start” in life.
The father of a five-year old and a newborn baby, Mr Manning was living with his mother.
“He engaged for a period with the Limerick Youth Services and was doing quite well,” the solicitor said.
“He crossed some people and received a brutal beating and then went underground. What was going on in his head was not rational.”
But Judge Harney said she could not ignore the accused’s driving which she described as “terrifying”.
She banned him on each of eight counts for ten years per count and in addition imposed jail sentences on the various charges totalling eight months, three months of which will run concurrently.
