23/01/2009

Three Years For Teen Who Rammed Garda Car

A teenage Dublin man has been handed a sentence of three years for ramming a garda vehicle twice with a stolen car.

At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Ciaran Sands, 19, of Foster Terrace, Ballybough, pleaded guilty to stealing a Volkswagen Golf, driving recklessly, and ramming a garda patrol car twice in Dublin city centre in the early hours of March 24, 2007.

The court heard Garda Tim Doyle telling prosecution counsel, Ms Fiona Murphy BL, that he observed the Volkswagen Golf driving without headlights towards his patrol car near the Buckingham Street and Summerhill junction.

The car turned right without indicating and drove at speed towards Guild Street, causing an oncoming ambulance with flashing lights to brake suddenly.

Officers chased the car towards Custom House Quay where it drove recklessly causing drivers to stop their vehicles and in some cases drive onto the footpath to avoid collision.

Garda Doyle said Sands tried to ram his garda car twice after the Volkswagen stalled.

Judge Desmond Hogan imposed a three-year sentence with the final 18 months suspended.

(DW/BMcC)

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