A Czech national who dragged two gardaí some 10 feet when he reversed his car while they held the vehicle's door has received an eight-year suspended sentence.
Oldrich Hornych (30) of Aghto Road, Newcastle, Co Dublin who pleaded guilty to two charges of reckless endangerment to Garda Alan Monaghan and Garda Joseph Walshe on June 3rd, 2004, was also disqualified by Judge Michael White from driving for 12 years.
Ms Aileen Donnelly SC told Judge Michael White that Hornych had just "got into a sheer panic" when he was stopped at the Garda checkpoint. He had no previous experience of dealing with police officers and felt he had to avoid gardaí finding him with no insurance.
Ms Donnelly said her client had not displayed any signs of this kind of reckless behaviour at work or in a social situation. The director of the company where he worked as a welder testified that he was a reliable employee.
Judge White said Hornych's manner on the night was absolutely appalling. He was a disgrace to his fine country of origin and in his view "the panic was a load of nonsense".
Judge White accepted the €5,000 compensation offered by Hornych and ordered that €2,500 be paid to both Garda Walshe and Garda Monaghan. He would have sent Hornych to prison for a long time if it were not for Ms Donnelly's eloquent plea on his behalf.
He sentenced Hornych to four years in prison on each charge of reckless endangerment and ordered that they were to be served consecutive to one another but he suspended both sentences on condition that Hornych keep the peace and be of good behaviour for eight years.
Judge White disqualified him from driving for 12 years.
The court was told that Hornych had initially failed to stop at a checkpoint on Wellington Quay in the city centre and was pursued by gardaí. After again breaking away from them in the incident in which he dragged the two officers some 10 feet, he was later arrested on South Circular Road where he was observed on foot. He apologised in the Garda station when he realised the two gardaí had been injured. They were both treated in hospital for bruising.