A teenager who drove a stolen car at gardaí during a high-speed chase has been jailed for four years after being told the court had run out of patience with him.
Liam O’Neill (18), of Longdale Terrace, Ballymun, Dublin, pleaded guilty to unauthorised taking of a car at Fairlawn Road, Finglas, and to dangerous driving at St Helena’s Road, Finglas, on February 15th, 2011.
Garda Stephen Walsh told Monika Leech, prosecuting, that gardaí began a pursuit of O’Neill when they saw him driving the stolen car at speed.The car cut out after O’Neill did a handbrake turn and gardaí moved to block him. O’Neill started the car again and tried to ram the patrol car. Gardaí had to pull out of the way. He drove off and tried to hide the car in a housing estate but then drove off again, driving straight at a Garda car.
Garda Walsh said O’Neill drove towards the Santry Road, breaking a red light and crossing over four lanes of traffic. The chase ended when he hit a bollard and fled on foot.
Garda Alan Carbery gave details of O’Neill’s 47 previous convictions which include six for burglary, one for robbery, two for dangerous driving and two for car theft.