‘Exuberance of youth’ led to garda patrol car's chase of Mayo teenage motorist

THE exuberance of youth may have led to a garda patrol car pursuing an 18-year-old man whose car was blowing some smoke from the exhaust during the chase.

Arising from the incident, Michael McDonagh, Ballyhankeen, Hollymount, who was 18 at the time of the incident but has now turned 19, pleaded guilty at Castlebar court to a charge of dangerous driving and driving without insurance following a chase which came to an end in Turlough, Castlebar, having commenced on the Pontoon Road, Castlebar.

Inspector Shane Fitzmaurice, outlining the facts in the case, said Garda Francis Carter’s attention was drawn to a car which had smoke billowing from the exhaust on the night of November 29, 2024, at 11.35 at Pontoon.

Garda Carter tried to stop the vehicle by flashing the blue light and turning on the siren but the car continued on before pulling up but then took off again.

The defendant eventually pulled up at Blackthorn Village in Turlough.

Inspector Fitzmaurice said the defendant was asked to produce a certificate of insurance but failed to produce it.

Mr. Evan O’Dwyer, solicitor for the defendant, said his client was 18 years of age at the time of the incident and had no previous convictions.

“It is hard to find an explanation for his behaviour on the night in question but it could possibly be youthful exuberance,” said Mr. O’Dwyer.

There was a lot going on that night and in fairness he could be before the court on multiple driving charges as the chase continued over a number of townlands, said Mr. O’Dwyer.

He added that his client was driving a defective vehicle on the night in question and continued to keep driving despite seeing the flashing blue lights of the garda car and the siren.

Mr. O’Dwyer praised the bravery of Garda Carter who continued his pursuit and eventually got the defendant to come to a stop.

He added that his client was working as a driver of a static teleporter with a construction company and was progressing in that line of work and had now his own car which is fully insured.

“He accepts this is a big set-back for his efforts to build a career in driving in the construction industry and he knows he has to face a mandatory disqualification, but he is a young man who has his whole future in front of him and is determined to put this behind him,” said Mr. O’Dwyer.

Judge Deirdre Gearty said it was a foolhardy decision to take on the garda, especially with a car that was blowing smoke from the exhaust.

She added: “I don’t know a lot about cars, especially ones with smoke blowing out of the exhaust, and while I am not a mechanic I can only assume it would have to be dangerous.”

Judge Gearty said to his credit the defendant came into court with his hands up but she had no option, considering the nature of the driving, but to impose a conviction for dangerous driving, for which she imposed a two-year driving and a fine of €250.

She also imposed a €250 fine for no insurance but declined to impose a suspension on the no insurance charge as it was the defendant’s first offence.

* Published under the Courts Reporting Scheme.