A NUMBER of Garda patrol cars took part in the pursuit of a Ford Transit van driven at over 140 km/h on the M1, a district court heard yesterday.
It emerged the driver was only 15 when the incident occurred near Ardee, Co Louth. The youth, who cannot be named because of his age, pleaded guilty to six charges of dangerous driving at different locations on the M1 on September 18th last year.
Garda Insp Paul Kierans told Drogheda District Court the van was seen by gardaí from Ardee and, when it failed to stop for them, they pursued it on to the M1.
The youth’s solicitor, Paddy Goodwin, said he had no previous convictions and, although he is 16 now, he was 15 at the time and could not have had a driving licence. He also pleaded guilty to driving without insurance and without a licence.
Judge Flann Brennan adjourned the case until November 14th and asked for a report from the Probation Service.