Teen doing 180km/h tried to collide with gardaí before his stolen car ‘flipped’

Tom Tuite

A Dublin youth driving a stolen car at 180km/h tried to “collide” with gardaí before it “lost control and flipped”, a court heard.

The boy, 16, who cannot be identified because he is a minor, appeared before Judge Paul Kelly at the Dublin Children’s Court on Wednesday.

He is accused of four counts of dangerous driving on the M50, the N4 and M4 in connection with a pursuit from Dublin to Maynooth, Co Kildare on April 27th last.

The teenager was also charged with unlawfully using a stolen car and causing €6,000 worth of damage to the vehicle.

He made no reply when charged and has yet to indicate a plea.

Objecting to bail, Garda Dean Healy cited the seriousness of the alleged incident and claimed the teenager drove at 180km/h while other cars were present.

Garda Healy alleged that the teen “attempted on a number of occasions to collide with patrol vehicles” before he “lost control and flipped on the road, 360; it was just sheer luck no one was seriously injured”.

The garda agreed with defence solicitor Brian Keenan that the boy did not have prior convictions or a history of failing to appear in court.

The solicitor also submitted that there was no evidence that the boy would interfere with witnesses or evidence, and notwithstanding the seriousness of the charge, he still enjoyed the presumption of innocence.

He asked the court to grant bail with conditions, and the judge agreed to impose terms suggested by Garda Healy.

He ordered the teenager to obey a 9pm – 6am curfew, stay out of Co Kildare, and have no contact with seven named individuals.

He was warned not to travel in or on any motor vehicle unless he was with a qualified and insured driver.

The boy, accompanied to court by his mother, was remanded on bail and ordered to appear again in December.