A 16-year-old youth was still seriously ill in hospital last night after a collision between a stolen car and a Garda squad car, following a lengthy pursuit in Dublin early yesterday.
The youth in the rear seat of the stolen car was thrown on to the road and suffered head injuries. The other two were not seriously injured. A garda who was in a patrol car which was involved in the head-on collision was still being treated in hospital yesterday for less serious injuries.
The incident began when a Ford Escort was spotted being driven dangerously in Loughlinstown. The car was stolen by three 16-year-olds, two from Fatima Mansions and one from Crumlin. All three are known to gardai. The Escort was driven at high speed towards the city, at one point along the wrong side of the Stillorgan dual carriageway.
Garda cars from districts along its route through the south of the city were involved in the pursuit although no attempt was made to stop the car. Garda sources said they were unable to stop it, as they did not have access to the Stinger, an extendable device containing hollow spikes which is thrown in front of speeding cars.
When the car began heading towards Dolphin's Barn at about 1.30 a.m., squad cars from the other central Garda divisions were alerted. The squad car involved in the collision at roadworks in Donore Avenue had crossed the Liffey from the North Central Division to assist in the pursuit.
The Garda Press Office has insisted the squad car involved in the collision was not in pursuit at the time of the incident.
Garda statistics show 14,851 cars were stolen in 1999, up 8 per cent on 1998; a reported 10,572 cars were stolen in Dublin, an increase of 11 per cent. The Stinger costs £1,000 and fits in a suitcase-sized container.