Man who drove away from garda on wrong side of road gets ban

A man who drove away from a garda on the wrong side of the road was banned from driving for five years on Friday in Tallaght District Court.

Judge John Lindsay also sentenced Michael Connors to six months jail, suspended for 18 months.

Garda Christian Madsen said he had been on patrol in Daletree Estate on September 28th, 2014, when he observed Michael Connors driving at speed. He said he activated his blue lights and Connors drove the wrong way around a roundabout and then on the wrong side of the road causing a taxi-driver to take evasive action. He said Connors turned into Daletree Place at speed without indicating before jumping out of the car.

Michael Connors, (30), Daletree Place, Tallaght, admitted to dangerous driving, to having no insurance and no driving licence at Daletree Place on September 28th, 2014.

He also admitted to dangerous driving at Daletree Drive, Tallaght, on the above date.

Garda Madsen said Connors had 29 previous convictions including a 30-year driving ban from 2010.

Connors’ lawyer, Michael Hennessy, said his client had shown remorse for his offences.

Judge Lindsay sentenced Connors to six months, suspended for 18 months and imposed a two-year ban for the second dangerous driving offence. He also imposed a five-year ban for having no insurance and a two-year ban for the first dangerous driving offence.