Limerick motorist jailed and banned for deliberately 'driving at' off-duty garda
Court told incident happened at Roxboro Road after Thomas Kiely was observed performing ‘aggressive’ manoeuvre
A MAN who threatened an off-duty member of An Garda Siochana before deliberately driving his car at him, has been jailed for a litany of road traffic offences.
Thomas Kiely, aged 32, of Sycamore Heights, Patrickswell, Co. Limerick, appeared before Judge Catherine Ryan charged with five counts of dangerous driving, not having insurance and driving without a licence.
He is currently serving a lengthy sentence in Limerick Prison for other matters.
Summarising the facts, Sergeant Denis Waters said that on August 17, 2024, an off-duty member of An Garda Siochana had parked his car on Mallow Street in the city centre when he observed another vehicle approaching at high speed.
Sgt Waters said the driver of this car, later identified as Mr Kiely, was "aggressive" when he performed a manoeuvre. The off-duty garda then witnessed the defendant not stopping at a pedestrian crossing and breaking a red light.
Judge Ryan was told the off-duty garda followed Mr Kiely in his own vehicle and requested assistance from gardai who were on duty.
He eventually caught up to Mr Kiely, who drove up past Carey’s Road to Roxboro Road, and exited his vehicle. As he approached, the defendant drove at the garda and warned him if he did not move, he would keep driving towards him.
In fear for his safety, the off-duty garda then moved away and Mr Kiely subsequently drove off.
Judge Ryan was informed that Thomas Kiely has 137 previous convictions for a variety of offences, including dangerous driving causing serious harm, hit-and-run and failing to remain at the scene of a road traffic incident.
He is currently serving a one-year prison sentence and a 15-year driving disqualification for separate matters, arising from a sentencing hearing at Limerick Circuit Court in July of this year.
Representing the accused, solicitor Michael O’Donnell said his client was not in “a great place mentally“ on the date of the offence. He submitted a letter to the court on behalf of Mr Kiely, which, he said, sets out where he was at then and where he is at now.
He was not in a great place mentally
Judge Ryan said what happened was of “huge concern” but that she also had to consider the mitigating factors in the case.
She said it was clear that “all sorts of wrongdoing” took place on August 17, 2024, and that “this man simply can’t drive.”
She imposed a second driving disqualification, of 10 years, on Mr Kiely.
Taking into account all submissions, Judge Catherine Ryan said the defendant had showed intention and could have injured the garda during the course of the incident.
Thomas Kiely was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for the dangerous driving charge, with the sentence to be added onto the Circuit Court sentence imposed in July.
Judge Ryan imposed this on the Limerick man for “causing danger to a member of An Garda Siochana.”
The sentence will be backdated to when he first entered custody.
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