A YOUTH who denies crashing a stolen vehicle into a Garda Special Branch car which was escorting Taoiseach Brian Cowen has been remanded on bail pending the preparation of a book of evidence.
Two detectives, who were not injured in the collision, were following the Taoiseach’s official car as Mr Cowen was being driven home from a late Cabinet meeting on the night of November 18th.
The 17-year-old west Dublin youth, who cannot be identified because he is a juvenile, has been charged with stealing a car at St John’s Road West, Dublin.
He faces an additional charge for reckless endangerment of life.
The case resumed yesterday at the Children’s Court before Judge Bryan Smyth. Garda Cathal McNamara said it was alleged the then 16-year-old boy stole a car and a traffic pursuit ensued which ended in Ballyfermot.
It was alleged the teenager drove at an unmarked Garda BMW car “causing considerable damage to the vehicle”. He said nobody was injured and the boy continued driving, went on the wrong side of three roundabouts and caused other road users to take evasive action.