A motorist, already banned from driving for 99 years, was banned for another 20 and sentenced to 18 months jail for offences when he was the target of a high-speed garda chase.
Donegal District Court was told that Derek Robinson was seen driving erratically in Donegal town just over three weeks ago on April 7.
A street was blocked with a garda van but Robinson escaped after hitting the van.
Supt Leo McGinn said he was pursued and contact between Robinson’s car and a garda vehicle occurred again at Barnesmore Gap 10 kilometres outside the town.
A roadblock was mounted further along at Ballybofey and Robinson’s car stopped. He escaped into woods but was later apprehended.
The court was told that 30-year-old Robinson, father of a six-year-old child, from Lismulladuff, Killygordon, had 46 previous convictions, including one for dangerous driving causing death in 2006.
Defence solicitor Paudge Dorrian said Robinson, who admitted the latest series of offences, had an appalling record which couldn’t be minimised.
Mr Dorrian added that Robinson knew that he was facing a jail sentence and he foolishly tried to escape.
Judge Kevin Kilrane said Robinson hadn’t learned from previous prison sentences. But “the bottom line” was when everything else failed, prison was the only option and Robinson must be locked up to protect the public.
Robinson was jailed for 18 months and received another 20-year drive ban for three dangerous driving offences, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance, and for refusing to provide a drink-test sample for gardai.
- Thu, 3 Oct 2024
- (+353) 07491 25000
- (+353) 086 60 25000